Stouffville's drinking water in 'great shape': Mayor

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 12, 2019
Simon Martin

Whitchurch-Stouffville residents have nothing to worry about when it comes to the town’s drinking water, according to Mayor Iain Lovatt.

More than 120 journalists from nine universities and 10 media organizations, including the Toronto Star and the Institute for Investigative Journalism, conducted a year-long investigation that collected test results that measure exposure to lead in 11 Canadian cities and found hundreds of thousands of Canadians are consuming tap water laced with high levels due to aging infrastructure.

Out of 12,000 tests conducted since 2014, 33 per cent exceeded the national safety guideline of five parts per billion.

Reporters also spread out over 32 cities and towns from coast to coast and tested the water of willing residents living in older homes. Using the accepted standards and submitting samples to accredited labs, it was found that 39 per cent of the samples exceeded the federal guideline.

While media reports have sparked chatter on local social media groups and phone calls to the town’s customer service department questioning the safety of local drinking water, Lovatt assured residents there is nothing to worry about.

“The results from the study are alarming but the water in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville is in great shape” Lovatt said. “The town provides clean, safe drinking water which meets all of the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards.”

Although testing for lead in municipal water is not a requirement from Health Canada, lead testing of town water is done annually to meet Ontario regulations. Tests have routinely showed lead levels well below the regulated limit set out by Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Lovatt said the town’s drinking water is tested at an accredited laboratory licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Residents suspecting that their home has lead plumbing or that they are connected to a lead service line, or if they have any concerns regarding water, are to call customer service at 905-640-1900 or 1-855-642-TOWN (8696).

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville owns and operates the Stouffville water distribution system, servicing approximately 35,000 residents and businesses in the community of Stouffville and for approximately 20 households on Highway 48. Presently, this water distribution system infrastructure consists of approximately 140 kilometres of various size water mains, 1530 water main valves, 1050 hydrants and 44 sampling stations.

Schools were also pegged for having high levels of lead in their water due to aging infrastructure in the investigation but the York Region District School Board said it is vigilant with monitoring and taking action to remediate issues when they arise.

The public board introduced a new water-testing process a couple years ago, in which water is sampled at each school on an annual basis, said school board spokesperson Christina Choo-Hum.

Each school has to meet the requirements laid out by Ontario’s environment and climate change ministry.

If levels exceed the safety guideline, the school board works with public health to mitigate the issue by flushing pipes, removing a particular fixture and providing an alternative water source until the test levels are clear, Choo-Hum said.

For tips on what you can do to find out if you have lead in your tap water click here and scroll to the section on York Region.