What you can do to find out if you have lead in your tap water
Toronto.com
November 5, 2019
TORONTO
1. How do I find out if there’s lead in my drinking water?
A sample of your home’s water remains the surest way. The City of Toronto offers these tests free of charge.
If you live in an older home, you may be at risk. Lead pipes in Canada were banned in 1975, so homes built more than 40 years ago are more likely to have pipes made of lead. Solder used to join pipes installed before 1990 and brass fixtures, like faucets and valves, could also contain lead.
Municipal service lines that deliver water to homes could also be made of lead if built before 1975, though it is possible the city has removed and replaced them.
2. How do I know if my interior plumbing is lead?
Lead pipes are grey, will not attract a magnet, and can be scratched easily with a key or knife. Scratches on lead pipes will reveal a silver, not copper, hue.
Apartment buildings and other multi-residential buildings with more than six units do not have lead pipes, regardless of how old the building is. The metal is too soft to handle the required pressure.
A plumber or home inspector can also confirm if you have lead pipes
3. How do I know if there are lead pipes on my property?
Look for the pipe entering your home, in your basement, garage or crawl space. If you have a water meter, you can take a look at the pipe feeding into the meter from the ground. When in doubt, contact a plumber.
The city recommends looking at the purchase papers for your house if you are the owner and, if you are a tenant, to contact your landlord. If you’re still unsure you can call 311, or 416-392-2489 if you’re outside of city limits, to request that city staff check city records for information about your property. The process can take up to 30 days.
4. How do I get my drinking water tested?
Toronto residents can contact 311 to request a lead test. A testing kit can picked up at your local public health office and returned there. Once a sample is dropped off, a lab will analyze the sample and the results of the test will be provided by phone or email.
Sample the water after a six-hour stagnation period, during which no faucets or showers are used or toilets flushed. You can collect the sample first thing in the morning or after returning from work. Lead leaching is highest in July and August when the pipes are warmest.
This investigation followed a three-sample method. After six-hour stagnation, the kitchen tap was turned on at high pressure and the first sample collected immediately. The second sample was collected after the water had run for 45 seconds, and the third sample was collected after the water had run for two minutes.
5. Test completed. How do I interpret the test results?
In Ontario, water distribution systems are required to ensure lead in drinking water doesn’t exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb), although the province is moving to adopt the Health Canada recommendation of lead levels below 5 ppb.
If your test result is above five ppb, you should take precautions to protect your health, especially if you are pregnant or have children under six.
Scientists agree there is no safe level of lead and Health Canada recommends reducing lead exposure as much as possible. Even at low levels, lead is especially risky for fetuses, babies and young children because it interferes with healthy brain development.
6. How can I get lead pipes replaced?
Removal options vary depending on whether the lead pipes are owned by the city or on your property. Anything up to your property line is owned by the city; the rest is yours. Removals on private property are paid for by the owner.
If a homeowner or landlord commits to replacing their side, the city will agree to remove the pipes on the street within 12 weeks as long as an application is sent.
7. Is there anything I can do right away to reduce my family’s exposure to lead?
Replacing your pipes remains the best way to protect your health. If you decide to filter your water, use a filter certified by the National Sanitation Foundation according to the NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 standard.
If you have a baby and can breastfeed, opt for that over formula, or only use ready to drink formula.
If you are unable to install a filter, flush your pipes each morning before cooking with or drinking your home’s water. This will help remove lead that has accumulated in pipes overnight.
Boiling water increases the concentration of lead in the water.
8. What should I look for to ensure there isn’t lead in my faucets?
If your faucet was installed prior to 2013, there’s a chance it may contain lead. In 2013, Canada tightened its definition of “lead-free” so that faucets now must contain less than one per cent lead.
When buying a faucet, check that it’s been certified as lead-free by a third-party certification body like the International National Sanitation Foundation or the CSA Group. The faucet’s packaging should indicate that it complies with the NSF/ANSI 61 or NSF/ANSI 372 standards.
9. As a renter, I don’t have the option to replace the pipes. My landlord doesn’t believe it’s an issue. Whom can I call to advocate on my behalf?
There is no law in Ontario that requires landlords to replace lead service lines.
There are a number of advocacy and legal groups for tenants in Toronto and Ontario, such as the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario or the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations, which may be able to assist you.
A list of social services and legal resources in Toronto can also be found on the Ontario Tenant Rights website.
10. Who can I call to find out whether there’s been lead in the drinking water found at my child’s school?
You can start by calling the school or school board and ask about lead testing results. Some schools or school boards post water quality reports on their websites. A list of the school boards in Ontario, and their contact information, can be found on the Ministry of Education’s website.
Every year, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks publishes testing data in Ontario and you can search test results.
11. I would like to talk to my public representative about how the city is handling this issue. Who should I contact?
A list of city councillors can be found here.
DURHAM REGION
1. How do I find out if there’s lead in my drinking water?
A sample of your home’s water remains the surest way. The Durham Region offers these tests for free.
If you live in an older home, you may be at risk. Lead pipes in Canada were banned in 1975, so homes built more than 40 years ago are more likely to have pipes made of lead. Solder used to join pipes installed before 1990 and brass fixtures, like faucets and valves, could also contain lead.
Municipal service lines that deliver water to homes could also be made of lead if built before 1975, though it is possible the city has removed and replaced them.
2. How do I know if my interior plumbing is lead?
Lead pipes are grey, will not attract a magnet, and can be scratched easily with a key or knife. Scratches on lead pipes will reveal a silver, not copper, hue.
Apartment buildings and other multi-residential buildings with more than six units do not have lead pipes, regardless of how old the building is. The metal is too soft to handle the required pressure.
A plumber or home inspector can also confirm if you have lead pipes.
3. How do I know if there are lead pipes on my property?
Look for the pipe entering your home, in your basement, garage or crawl space. If you have a water meter, you can take a look at the pipe feeding into the meter from the ground. When in doubt, contact a plumber.
If you’re a renter, you may need to ask your landlord for assistance.
4. How do I get my drinking water tested?
Durham Region oversees testing for the entire region, and offers tests free of charge on request.
Sample the water after a six-hour stagnation period, during which no faucets or showers are used or toilets flushed. You can collect the sample first thing in the morning or after returning from work. Lead leaching is highest in July and August when the pipes are warmest.
This investigation followed a three-sample method. After six-hour stagnation, the kitchen tap was turned on at high pressure and the first sample collected immediately. The second sample was collected after the water had run for 45 seconds, and the third sample was collected after the water had run for two minutes.
5. Test completed. How do I interpret the test results?
In Ontario, water distribution systems are required to ensure lead in drinking water doesn’t exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb), although the province is moving to adopt the Health Canada recommendation of lead levels below 5 ppb.
If your test result is above five ppb, you should take precautions to protect your health, especially if you are pregnant or have children under six.
Scientists agree there is no safe level of lead and Health Canada recommends reducing lead exposure as much as possible. Even at low levels, lead is especially risky for fetuses, babies and young children because it interferes with healthy brain development.
6. How can I get lead pipes replaced?
Removal options vary depending on whether the lead pipes are owned by the city or on your property. Anything up to your property line is owned by the city; the rest is yours. Removals on private property are paid for by the owner.
The City of Durham will replace lead pipes on municipal property but only after a homeowner or landlord has replaced lead pipes located on their side. To make a request, residents can fill out an application for removal.
The Region of Durham will also replace lead service lines on public property. Durham will also provide an NSF 53 approved water filter for use post replacement.
7. Is there anything I can do right away to reduce my family’s exposure if lead is found in drinking water?
Replacing your pipes remains the best way to protect your health. If you decide to filter your water, use a filter certified by the National Sanitation Foundation according to the NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 standard.
If you have a baby and can breastfeed, opt for that over formula, or only use ready to drink formula.
If you are unable to install a filter, flush your pipes each morning before cooking with or drinking your home’s water. This will help remove lead that has accumulated in pipes overnight.
Boiling water increases the concentration of lead in the water.
8. What should I look for to ensure there isn’t lead in my faucets?
If your faucet was installed prior to 2013, there’s a chance it may contain lead. In 2013, Canada tightened its definition of “lead-free” so that faucets now must contain less than one per cent lead.
When buying a faucet, check that it’s been certified as lead-free by a third-party certification body like the International National Sanitation Foundation or the CSA Group. The faucet’s packaging should indicate that it complies with the NSF/ANSI 61 or NSF/ANSI 372 standards.
9. As a renter, I don’t have the option to replace the pipes. My landlord doesn’t believe it’s an issue. Who can I call to advocate on my behalf?
There is no law in Ontario that requires landlords to replace lead service lines.
There are a number of advocacy and legal groups for tenants in Ontario, such as the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario. You can also contact the Durham Community Legal Clinic.
10. Who can I call to find out whether there’s been lead in the drinking water found at my child’s school?
You can start by calling the school or school board and ask about lead testing results. Some schools or school boards post water quality reports on their websites. A list of the school boards in Ontario, and their contact information, can be found on the Ministry of Education’s website.
Every year, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks publishes testing data in Ontario and you can search test results.
11. I would like to talk to my public representative about how the city is handling this issue. Who should I contact?
A list of city councillors can be found here.
YORK REGION
1. How do I find out if there’s lead in my drinking water?
A sample of your home’s water remains the surest way. Some towns in York Region offer the tests free of charge.
If you live in an older home, you may be at risk. Lead pipes in Canada were banned in 1975, so homes built more than 40 years ago are more likely to have pipes made of lead. Solder used to join pipes installed before 1990 and brass fixtures, like faucets and valves, could also contain lead.
Municipal service lines that deliver water to homes could also be made of lead if built before 1975, though it is possible the city has removed and replaced them.
2. How do I know if my interior plumbing is lead?
Lead pipes are grey, will not attract a magnet, and can be scratched easily with a key or knife. Scratches on lead pipes will reveal a silver, not copper, hue.
Apartment buildings and other multi-residential buildings with more than six units do not have lead pipes, regardless of how old the building is. The metal is too soft to handle the required pressure.
A plumber or home inspector can also confirm if you have lead pipes.
3. How do I know if there are lead pipes on my property?
Look for the pipe entering your home, in your basement, garage or crawl space. If you have a water meter, you can take a look at the pipe feeding into the meter from the ground. When in doubt, contact a plumber.
If you’re a renter, you may need to ask your landlord for assistance.
4. How do I get my drinking water tested?
The Town of Vaughan and Whitchurch-Stouffville offers free lead tests upon request, however the towns of Markahm, Aurora, Georgina, King, Richmond Hill, East Gwillimbury and Newmarket do not. Residents in those towns can pay for a test by a provincially accredited lab.
Sample the water after a six-hour stagnation period, during which no faucets or showers are used or toilets flushed. You can collect the sample first thing in the morning or after returning from work. Lead leaching is highest in July and August when the pipes are warmest.
This investigation followed a three-sample method. After six-hour stagnation, the kitchen tap was turned on at high pressure and the first sample collected immediately. The second sample was collected after the water had run for 45 seconds, and the third sample was collected after the water had run for two minutes.
5. Test completed. How do I interpret the test results?
In Ontario, water distribution systems are required to ensure lead in drinking water doesn’t exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb), although the province is moving to adopt the Health Canada recommendation of lead levels below 5 ppb.
If your test result is above five ppb, you should take precautions to protect your health, especially if you are pregnant or have children under six.
Scientists agree there is no safe level of lead and Health Canada recommends reducing lead exposure as much as possible. Even at low levels, lead is especially risky for fetuses, babies and young children because it interferes with healthy brain development.
6. How can I get lead pipes replaced?
Removal options vary depending on whether the lead pipes are owned by the city or on your property. Anything up to your property line is owned by the city; the rest is yours. Removals on private property are paid for by the owner.
The towns of Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Markham and Georgina said they replace lead pipes if they are discovered on a street. The City of Vaughan says they will remove watermains made of lead if they are “flagged as a risk.”
The towns of East Gwillimbury, King, Aurora and Whitchurch-Stouffville would not confirm with the Star whether they would remove lead watermains on their side of the property line.
The City of Vaughan says if a homeowner removes lead pipes on their property but lead pipes remain on the street, they will move to remove those on their end of the property line as well.
7. Is there anything I can do right away to reduce my family’s exposure to lead?
Replacing your pipes remains the best way to protect your health. If you decide to filter your water, use a filter certified by the National Sanitation Foundation according to the NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 standard.
If you have a baby and can breastfeed, opt for that over formula, or only use ready to drink formula.
If you are unable to install a filter, flush your pipes each morning before cooking with or drinking your home’s water. This will help remove lead that has accumulated in pipes overnight.
Boiling water increases the concentration of lead in the water.
8. What should I look for to ensure there isn’t lead in my faucets?
If your faucet was installed prior to 2013, there’s a chance it may contain lead. In 2013, Canada tightened their definitions of “lead-free” so that faucet surfaces now must contain less than one per cent lead.
When buying a faucet, check that it’s been certified as lead-free by a third-party certification body like the International National Sanitation Foundation or the CSA Group. The faucet’s packaging should indicate that it complies with the NSF/ANSI 61 or NSF/ANSI 372 standards.
9. As a renter, I don’t have the option to replace the pipes. My landlord doesn’t believe it’s an issue. Whom can I call to advocate on my behalf?
There is no law in Ontario that requires landlords to replace lead service lines.
There are a number of advocacy and legal groups for tenants in Ontario, such as the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario. You can also contact York Region Housing Mediation Services.
10. Who can I call to find out whether there’s been lead in the drinking water found at my child’s school?
You can start by calling the school or school board and ask about lead testing results. Some schools or school boards post water quality reports on their websites. A list of the school boards in Ontario, and their contact information, can be found on the Ministry of Education’s website.
Every year, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks publishes testing data in Ontario and you can search test results.
11. I would like to talk to my public representative about how the city is handling this issue. Who should I contact?
A list of city councillors can be found here.
VAUGHAN
1. How do I find out if there’s lead in my drinking water?
A sample of your home’s water remains the surest way. The City of Vaughan offers these tests free of charge.
If you live in an older home, you may be at risk. Lead pipes in Canada were banned in 1975, so homes built more than 40 years ago are more likely to have pipes made of lead. Solder used to join pipes installed before 1990 and brass fixtures, like faucets and valves, could also contain lead.
Municipal service lines that deliver water to homes could also be made of lead if built before 1975, though it is possible the city has removed and replaced them.
2. How do I know if my interior plumbing is lead?
Lead pipes are grey, will not attract a magnet, and can be scratched easily with a key or knife. Scratches on lead pipes will reveal a silver, not copper, hue.
Apartment buildings and other multi-residential buildings with more than six units do not have lead pipes, regardless of how old the building is. The metal is too soft to handle the required pressure.
A plumber or home inspector can also confirm if you have lead pipes.
3. How do I know if there are lead pipes on my property?
Look for the pipe entering your home, in your basement, garage or crawl space. If you have a water meter, you can take a look at the pipe feeding into the meter from the ground. When in doubt, contact a plumber.
If you’re a renter, you may need to ask your landlord for assistance.
4. How do I get my drinking water tested?
The City of Vaughan offers lead tests free of charge to residents who request them.
Sample the water after a six-hour stagnation period, during which no faucets or showers are used or toilets flushed. You can collect the sample first thing in the morning or after returning from work. Lead leaching is highest in July and August when the pipes are warmest.
This investigation followed a three-sample method. After six-hour stagnation, the kitchen tap was turned on at high pressure and the first sample collected immediately. The second sample was collected after the water had run for 45 seconds, and the third sample was collected after the water had run for two minutes.
5. Test completed. How do I interpret the test results?
In Ontario, water distribution systems are required to ensure lead in drinking water doesn’t exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb), although the province is moving to adopt the Health Canada recommendation of lead levels below 5 ppb.
If your test result is above five ppb, you should take precautions to protect your health, especially if you are pregnant or have children under six.
Scientists agree there is no safe level of lead and Health Canada recommends reducing lead exposure as much as possible. Even at low levels, lead is especially risky for fetuses, babies and young children because it interferes with healthy brain development.
6. How can I get lead pipes replaced?
Removal options vary depending on whether the lead pipes are owned by the city or on your property. Anything up to your property line is owned by the city; the rest is yours. Removals on private property are paid for by the owner.
The City of Vaughan says it will remove watermains made of lead if they are “flagged as a risk.” They also said if homeowners remove lead pipes on their property but lead pipes remain on municipal property, they will move to remove them.
7. Is there anything I can do right away to reduce my family’s exposure to lead?
Replacing your pipes remains the best way to protect your health. If you decide to filter your water, use a filter certified by the National Sanitation Foundation according to the NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 standard.
If you have a baby and can breastfeed, opt for that over formula, or only use ready to drink formula.
If you are unable to install a filter, flush your pipes each morning before cooking with or drinking your home’s water. This will help remove lead that has accumulated in pipes overnight.
Boiling water increases the concentration of lead in the water.
8. What should I look for to ensure there isn’t lead in my faucets?
If your faucet was installed prior to 2013, there’s a chance it may contain lead. In 2013, Canada tightened its definition of “lead-free” so that faucets now must contain less than one per cent lead.
When buying a faucet, check that it’s been certified as lead-free by a third-party certification body like the International National Sanitation Foundation or the CSA Group. The faucet’s packaging should indicate that it complies with the NSF/ANSI 61 or NSF/ANSI 372 standards.
9. As a renter, I don’t have the option to replace the pipes. My landlord doesn’t believe it’s an issue. Whom can I call to advocate on my behalf?
There is no law in Ontario that requires landlords to replace lead service lines.
There are a number of advocacy and legal groups for tenants in Ontario, such as the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario. You can also contact York Region Housing Mediation Services.
10. Who can I call to find out whether there’s been lead in the drinking water found at my child’s school?
You can start by calling the school or school board and ask about lead testing results. Some schools or school boards post water quality reports on their websites. A list of the school boards in Ontario, and their contact information, can be found on the Ministry of Education’s website.
Every year, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks publishes testing data in Ontario and you can search test results.
11. I would like to talk to my public representative about how the city is handling this issue. Who should I contact?
A list of city councillors can be found here.
HALTON REGION
1. How do I find out if there’s lead in my drinking water?
A sample of your home’s water remains the surest way.
If you live in an older home, you may be at risk. Lead pipes in Canada were banned in 1975, so homes built more than 40 years ago are more likely to have pipes made of lead. Solder used to join pipes installed before 1990, and brass fixtures, like faucets and valves, could also have lead inside them.
Municipal service lines that deliver water to homes could also be made of lead if built before 1975, though it is possible the city has removed and replaced them.
The Halton Region oversees testing for the entire region, inlcuding Burlington, Oakville and Milton and offers tests free of charge to residents who live in homes built before1990. Those who don’t apply can pay for a test by a provincially accredited lab.
2. How do I know if my interior plumbing is lead?
Lead pipes are grey, will not attract a magnet, and can be scratched easily with a key or knife. Scratches on lead pipes will reveal a silver, not copper, hue.
Apartment buildings and other multi-residential buildings with more than six units do not have lead pipes, regardless of how old the building is. The metal is too soft to handle the required pressure required.
A plumber or home inspector can also confirm if there are lead pipes.
3. How do I know if there are lead pipes on my property?
Look for the pipe entering your home, in your basement, garage or crawl space. If you have a water meter, you can take a look at the pipe feeding into the meter from the ground. When in doubt, contact a plumber.
If you’re a renter, you may need to ask your landlord for assistance.
4. How do I get my drinking water tested?
Halton Region encourages homeowners to volunteer for lead testing. You can request a test by calling 311.
Sample the water after a six-hour stagnation period, during which no faucets or showers in the building are used or toilets flushed. You can collect the sample first thing in the morning or after returning from work. Lead leaching is highest in July and August, when the pipes are warmest.
This invesstigation followed a three-sample method. After a six-hour stagnation, the kitchen tap was turned on at high pressure and the first sample collected immediately. The second sample was collected after the water had run for 45 seconds and the third was collected after the water had run for two minutes.
5. Test completed. How do I interpret the test results?
In Ontario, water distribution systems are required to ensure lead in drinking water doesn’t exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb), although the province is moving to adopt the Health Canada recommends keeping lead levels below 5 ppb.
If your test result is above 5 ppb, you should take precautions to protect your health, especially if you are pregnant or have children in the home under six.
Scientists agree there is no level of lead that is considered “safe” and Health Canada recommends reducing lead exposure as much as possible. Even at low levels, lead is especially risky for fetuses, babies and young children, because it interferes with healthy brain development.
6. How do I get a lead service line replaced?
Removal options vary depending on whether the lead pipes are owned by the city or on your property. Anything up to your property line is owned by the city; the rest is yours. Removals on private property are paid for by the owner.
The Halton Region is responsible for water delivery across the region. Region spokesperson Rachel Gardner says if lead pipes are discovered they will be replaced as soon as possible.
7. Is there anything I can do right away to reduce my family’s exposure to lead?
Replacing your pipes remains the best way to protect your health. If you decide to filter your water, use a filter certified by the National Sanitation Foundation according to the NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 standard.
If you have a baby and can breastfeed, opt for that over formula, or only use ready to drink formula.
If you are unable to install a filter, flush your pipes each morning before cooking with or drinking your home’s water. This will help remove lead that has accumulated in pipes overnight.
Boiling water increases the concentration of lead in the water.
8. What should I look for to ensure there isn’t lead in my faucets?
If your faucet was installed before 2013, there’s a chance it may contain lead. In 2013, Canada tightened its definitions of “lead-free” so that faucets now must contain less than one per cent lead.
When buying a faucet, check that it’s been certified as lead-free by a third-party certification body like the International National Sanitation Foundation or the CSA Group. The faucet’s packaging should indicate that it complies with the NSF/ANSI 61 or NSF/ANSI 372 standards.
9. As a renter, I don’t have the option to replace the pipes. My landlord doesn’t believe it’s an issue. Whom can I call to advocate on my behalf?
There is no law in Ontario that requires landlords to replace a lead service line in their building.
There are a number of advocacy and legal groups for tenants in Ontario, such as the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario. Halton Community Legal Services also provides aid to tenants.
10. Who can I call to find out whether there’s been lead in the drinking water found at my child’s school?
You can start by calling the school or school board and ask about lead testing results. Some schools or school boards post water quality reports on their websites. A list of the school boards in Ontario, and their contact information, can be found on the Ministry of Education’s website.
Every year, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks publishes testing data in Ontario and you can download it to look for the test results from your child’s school.
11. I would like to talk to my public representative about how the city is handling this issue. Who should I contact?
A list of city councillors can be found here.
PEEL REGION
1. How do I find out if there’s lead in my drinking water?
A sample of your home’s water remains the surest way. Peel Region oversees testing for the entire region, and offers tests for free.
If you live in an older home, you may be at risk. Lead pipes in Canada were banned in 1975, so homes built more than 40 years ago are more likely to have pipes made of lead. Solder used to join pipes installed before 1990 and brass fixtures, like faucets and valves, could also contain lead.
Municipal service lines that deliver water to homes could also be made of lead if built before 1975, though it is possible the city has removed and replaced them.
“If the municipal service pipe is confirmed to be lead, it is replaced on the municipal side,” Peel Region said. “Under direction from Public Health, action may include re-sampling to confirm lead concentration in water at the tap. The homeowner is provided with advice from Public Health on how to lessen exposure to lead and is encouraged to replace their plumbing (private side service pipe) to further reduce the risk.”
2. How do I know if my interior plumbing is lead?
Lead pipes are grey, will not attract a magnet, and can be scratched easily with a key or knife. Scratches on lead pipes will reveal a silver, not copper, hue.
Apartment buildings and other multi-residential buildings with more than six units do not have lead pipes, regardless of how old the building is. The metal is too soft to handle the required pressure.
A plumber or home inspector can also confirm if you have lead pipes.
3. How do I know if there are lead pipes on my property?
Look for the pipe entering your home, in your basement, garage or crawl space. If you have a water meter, you can take a look at the pipe feeding into the meter from the ground. When in doubt, contact a plumber.
If you’re a renter, you may need to ask your landlord for assistance.
4. How do I get my drinking water tested?
Peel Region offers lead tests free of charge.
Sample the water after a six-hour stagnation period, during which no faucets or showers are used or toilets flushed. You can collect the sample first thing in the morning or after returning from work. Lead leaching is highest in July and August when the pipes are warmest.
This investigation followed a three-sample method. After six-hour stagnation, the kitchen tap was turned on at high pressure and the first sample collected immediately. The second sample was collected after the water had run for 45 seconds, and the third sample was collected after the water had run for two minutes.
5. Test completed. How do I interpret the test results?
In Ontario, water distribution systems are required to ensure lead in drinking water doesn’t exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb), although the province is moving to adopt the Health Canada recommendation of lead levels below 5 ppb.
If your test result is above five ppb, you should take precautions to protect your health, especially if you are pregnant or have children under six.
Scientists agree there is no safe level of lead and Health Canada recommends reducing lead exposure as much as possible. Even at low levels, lead is especially risky for fetuses, babies and young children because it interferes with healthy brain development.
6. How can I get lead pipes replaced?
Removal options vary depending on whether the lead pipes are owned by the city or on your property. Anything up to your property line is owned by the city; the rest is yours. Removals on private property are paid for by the owner.There is no formal program to replace pirvately owned lead pipes, according to Peel Region.
If the water main owned by the city is found to be made of lead, the Peel Region assures immediate replacement.
7. Is there anything I can do right away to reduce my family’s exposure to lead?
Replacing your pipes remains the best way to protect your health. If you decide to filter your water, use a filter certified by the National Sanitation Foundation according to the NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 standard.
If you have a baby and can breastfeed, opt for that over formula, or only use ready to drink formula.
If you are unable to install a filter, flush your pipes each morning before cooking with or drinking your home’s water. This will help remove lead that has accumulated in pipes overnight.
Boiling water increases the concentration of lead in the water.
8. What should I look for to ensure there isn’t lead in my faucets?
If your faucet was installed prior to 2013, there’s a chance it may contain lead. In 2013, Canada tightened its definition of “lead-free” so that faucets now must contain less than one per cent lead.
When buying a faucet, check that it’s been certified as lead-free by a third-party certification body like the International National Sanitation Foundation or the CSA Group. The faucet’s packaging should indicate that it complies with the NSF/ANSI 61 or NSF/ANSI 372 standards.
9. As a renter, I don’t have the option to replace the pipes. My landlord doesn’t believe it’s an issue. Whom can I call to advocate on my behalf?
There is no law in Ontario that requires landlords to replace lead service lines.
There are a number of advocacy and legal groups for tenants in Ontario, such as the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario.
10. Who can I call to find out whether there’s been lead in the drinking water found at my child’s school?
You can start by calling the school or school board and ask about lead testing results. Some schools or school boards post water quality reports on their websites. A list of the school boards in Ontario, and their contact information, can be found on the Ministry of Education’s website.
Every year, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks publishes testing data in Ontario and you can search test results.
11. I would like to talk to my public representative about how the city is handling this issue. Who should I contact?
A list of city councillors can be found here.
HAMILTON
1. How do I find out if there’s lead in my drinking water?
A sample of your home’s water remains the surest way.
If you live in an older home, you may be at risk. Lead pipes in Canada were banned in 1975, so homes built more than 40 years ago are more likely to have pipes made of lead. Solder used to join pipes installed before 1990 and brass fixtures, like faucets and valves, could also contain lead.
Municipal service lines that deliver water to homes could also be made of lead if built before 1975, though it is possible the city has removed and replaced them.
2. How do I know if my interior plumbing is lead?
Lead pipes are grey, will not attract a magnet, and can be scratched easily with a key or knife. Scratches on lead pipes will reveal a silver, not copper, hue.
Apartment buildings and other multi-residential buildings with more than six units do not have lead pipes, regardless of how old the building is. The metal is too soft to handle the to handle the required pressure.
A plumber or home inspector can also confirm if there are lead pipes where you’re living.
3. How do I know if there are lead pipes on my property?
Look for the pipe entering your home, in your basement, garage or crawl space. If you have a water meter, you can take a look at the pipe feeding into the meter from the ground. When in doubt, contact a plumber.
If you’re a renter, you may need to ask your landlord for assistance.
4. How do I get my drinking water tested?
The City of Hamilton does not offer free lead tests for residents. You can pay for a test by a provincially accredited lab.
Sample the water after a six-hour stagnation period, during which no faucets or showers are used or toilets flushed. You can collect the sample first thing in the morning or after returning from work. Lead leaching is highest in July and August when the pipes are warmest.
This investigation followed a three-sample method. After six-hour stagnation, the kitchen tap was turned on at high pressure and the first sample collected immediately. The second sample was collected after the water had run for 45 seconds, and the third sample was collected after the water had run for two minutes.
5. Test completed. How do I interpret the test results?
In Ontario, water distribution systems are required to ensure lead in drinking water doesn’t exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb), although the province is moving to adopt the Health Canada recommendation of lead levels below 5 ppb.
If your test result is above five ppb, you should take precautions to protect your health, especially if you are pregnant or have children under six.
Scientists agree there is no safe level of lead and Health Canada recommends reducing lead exposure as much as possible. Even at low levels, lead is especially risky for fetuses, babies and young children because it interferes with healthy brain development.
6. How do I get a lead service line replaced?
Removal options vary depending on whether the lead pipes are owned by the city or on your property. Anything up to your property line is owned by the city; the rest is yours. Removals on private property are paid for by the owner.
The City of Hamilton will replace lead pipes on municipal property line but only after a homeowner or landlord has replaced lead pipes located on their property.
The city also offers a $2,500 interest-bearing loan. The loan can be transferred onto residents’ water bill for up to 10 years.
7. Is there anything I can do right away to reduce my family’s exposure to lead?
Replacing your pipes remains the best way to protect your health. If you decide to filter your water, use a filter certified by the National Sanitation Foundation according to the NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 standard.
If you have a baby and can breastfeed, opt for that over formula, or only use ready to drink formula.
If you are unable to install a filter, flush your pipes each morning before cooking with or drinking your home’s water. This will help remove lead that has accumulated in pipes overnight.
Boiling water increases the concentration of lead in the water.
8. What should I look for to ensure there isn’t lead in my faucets?
If your faucet was installed prior to 2013, there’s a chance it may contain lead. In 2013, Canada tightened its definition of “lead-free” so that faucets now must contain less than one per cent lead.
When buying a faucet, check that it’s been certified as lead-free by a third-party certification body like the International National Sanitation Foundation or the CSA Group. The faucet’s packaging should indicate that it complies with the NSF/ANSI 61 or NSF/ANSI 372 standards.
9. As a renter, I don’t have the option to replace the pipes. My landlord doesn’t believe it’s an issue. Whom can I call to advocate on my behalf?
There is no law in Ontario that requires landlords to replace a lead service line in their building.
There are a number of advocacy and legal groups for tenants in Ontario, such as the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario. You can also contact the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic.
10. Who can I call to find out whether there’s been lead in the drinking water found at my child’s school?
You can start by calling the school or school board and ask about lead testing results. Some schools or school boards post water quality reports on their websites. A list of the school boards in Ontario, and their contact information, can be found on the Ministry of Education’s website.
Every year, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks publishes testing data in Ontario and you can search test results.
11. I would like to talk to my public representative about how the city is handling this issue. Who should I contact?
A list of city councillors can be found here.
To read the full article, see here: https://www.toronto.com/news-story/9676502-what-you-can-do-to-find-out-if-you-have-lead-in-your-tap-water/
