Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
"We are also working closely with public health and environmental experts to determine next steps to remediate the issue as soon as possible," wrote Schreiter in her email. Legionellosis is the broad term for a number of diseases, including legionnaire's disease and Pontiac fever, that are caused by the water-borne legionella bacteria.
The Ottawa Hospital has temporarily turned off the water in certain units at its General campus after confirming a case of legionellosis. As a precautionary measure, water service was suspended the morning of Sept. 21 after a patient was diagnosed with legionellosis — the broad term for a number of diseases, including legionnaire's disease, caused by the water-borne legionella bacteria. Service was suspended Monday on floors four through eight as the water system at the campus underwent a "hyperchlorination process," the hospital said.
