What would Windsor do if its water supply wasn't safe?

It could happen here. 

Last August, residents in Toledo, Ohio, went without tap water for three days when its public drinking water system was shut down, reportedly due to algae on Lake Erie. 

Now, researchers here at home, are studying how to best prepare if this area ever finds itself in a similar predicament. 

Two University of Windsor engineering professors are working with engineering consultants Crozier Baird and Union Water Supply System on reviewing worst-case scenarios that could possibly lead to Essex County temporarily losing access to safe drinking water. The researchers will also assess possible threats and scrutinize available back-up options for water security planning, says a university press release.

"The events in Toledo last summer really put the spotlight on what happens to a municipality, or to a region, if a water supply, for some reason becomes cut off," said Dr. Rupp Carriveau, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the university, in a phone interview with CBC News.

"It's something that people don't like to think about, but it's something that needs to be planned for." 

Blue-green algae bloom season is in full swing

One of the biggest toxic blue-green algae blooms ever recorded is predicted for Lake Erie this year.

In July, scientists said the harmful algae bloom season will be among the most severe in recent years and could become the second-most severe behind the record-setting 2011 bloom.

While it's not his area of expertise, Dr. Carriveau said what happened in Toledo shows that "it's a possibility" an algae bloom could impact the water supply in the Windsor-Essex area.

"It's not just algae blooms we're worried about. There's potential issues all the time with cyber-security, then there's plain old mechanical failure," said the professor. 

But, there's no need to start acting like a 'prepper,' stocking up on all sorts of supplies for the apocalypse, he makes sure to add.

"It's just a case of preparedness — it's not a case of overriding concern about an imminent threat. It's just a case of trying to be more prepared."

The security study is part of an ongoing Essex Region Smart Water Project. This will be the first study for University of Windsor's newly formed Centre for Energy and Water Advancement.