In 2000, contaminated drinking water in the small Canadian town of Walkerton triggered one of the country’s worst public health disasters.

Heavy rainfall washed E. coli bacteria into the town’s water supply, but failures in testing and reporting meant residents continued to drink the water. Seven people died and thousands fell ill.

Megan Lawton speaks to resident Bruce Davidson who experienced the crisis firsthand.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.

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(Photo: A sign stating the water is find, on Knights of Colombus hall just outside of Walkerton, 2000. Credit: Peter Power/via Getty)