The Walkerton E. coli outbreak was the result of a contamination of the drinking water supply of Walkerton, Ontario, Canada, with E. coli and Campylobacter jejuni bacteria. ... The contamination caused gastroenteritis and sickened more than 2,000 people and resulted in six deaths.

Who was responsible for the Walkerton tragedy?

It occurred after rain washed manure from a local farm into one of the town's wells. The report followed nine months of testimony from 114 witnesses. In it, O'Connor described a system-wide collapse that began with Stan and Frank Koebel, the brothers responsible for the town's water.

Could the Walkerton tragedy have been avoided?

Seven people died and hundreds were made ill from drinking contaminated water in Walkerton, Ont., in 2000. ... And according to the local medical officer of health, it all could have been prevented.