North Battleford tainted water victims get settlement in class-action lawsuit

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. — People who were children and got sick from a parasite in a Saskatchewan city’s drinking water 16 years ago are getting compensation.

A law firm says Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench has approved a $3.3-million settlement for anyone who was younger than 18 during the tainted water scandal in North Battleford.

Lawyer Brad Jamieson with the firm Cuelenaere, Kendall, Katzman and Watson says people can make claims until November and hopefully get paid by the end of the year.

Payment for each person will depend on how many people make a claim, how ill they were and how long they were sick.

An estimated 7,000 people suffered from vomiting, diarrhea and high fever when the cryptosporidium parasite got into North Battleford’s drinking water after maintenance work on a filter at the treatment plant.

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No one died.

In August 2003, a $3.2-million out-of-court settlement was reached with more than 700 people made ill by the parasite. Another deal for $425,000 was reached for a group of about 100 people in November 2003.

The cryptosporidium parasite can cause an intestinal infection in people and animals. It is commonly found in lakes and rivers, especially if the water is contaminated with human or animal waste.

Young children, those who handle animals, people travelling to areas with poor sanitation, health-care workers and anyone with a weakened immune system are particularly susceptible.

The parasite is resistant to disinfectants, including chlorine bleach, and is difficult to control because it can survive in the environment for long periods of time.

An inquiry into the outbreak concluded the city of North Battleford failed to recognize its responsibilities for the water supply.

The report also said the province’s Environment Department was an “inadequate and ineffective” regulator. The city’s water treatment plant had not been inspected by the province for 10 years.

The Canadian Press

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