What is an “Acceptable” Level of Lead in Drinking Water?
For many years, people have known that ingesting or inhaling lead is dangerous. According to Health Canada, “Lead poisoning can cause anemia. It can also damage the brain and nervous system, resulting in learning disabilities.”
Children are the most at risk due to the fact that their growing bodies can more easily absorb this metal. Health Canada further states that, “Even small amounts of dust containing lead are dangerous to infants and children. Lead taken in by mothers-to-be can also pose a danger to the health of unborn children.”
Health Canada - Lead Based Paint
It is a long-known fact that older homes pose many risks with regard to lead poisoning due to the lead-based paints that were so common prior to 1960. It has finally been acknowledged that these homes also pose risks through drinking water due to the lead pipes that were also so prevalent.
It is a little known fact that, in these homes, water lines should be flushed every morning, or any time that water has been standing for more than 6 hours. It is recommended that homeowners allow taps to run for at least 5 minutes each morning, prior to consuming water. It is further recommended in these homes that only cold water should be used for drinking, making coffee or tea, or for cooking since hot water absorbs more lead from pipes and solder.
Even following these recommendations, however, will not guarantee “safe” drinking water.
Since the discovery of contaminated water in Ontario communities, the provincial government has mandated lead testing for all schools and daycares in older buildings. Laurel Broten, the provincial environment minister, has stated that, the (Ontario) government’s action plan includes a proposed regulation to make regular municipal water testing mandatory.
This problem is hitting very close to home for Ontario lawmakers. Signage has been posted in Queen’s Park warning against consuming the water from the 114-year-old building’s pipes due to unacceptable levels of contamination.
This begs the question, what is an acceptable level of contamination in drinking water?
According to the Toronto Star, “Most Ontario municipalities will test a home’s water for free, but if the service line from the street to the home has to be replaced, the homeowner will end up paying about $2,000 of the cost, and possibly as much as $10,000.”
Lead Concerns Prompt Tap Water Tests
Replacing lead pipes from the service line, however, does not eliminate lead accumulated in water supplies in transit through delivery systems. Most municipalities are struggling to replace the lead pipes that are common to these infrastructures.
Clearly, it is time to address in-home filtration methods that will eliminate not only lead but also other containments, both naturally occurring and manmade.
The cost of a whole home water filtration system is often comparable to, or even less expensive than, the cost of making these recommended replacements to plumbing and will offer the homeowner a host of other benefits that cannot be realized by simply changing out the pipes.
We, at Water 411, feel that it is time to address these issues. Politicians tell us that even in municipalities in which lead concentrations have been deemed “higher than acceptable” the water is still safe to drink. They also acknowledge, however, that prolonged exposure to lead is highly unsafe. I personally believe, and current legislation seems to bear out the fact, that we must protect the most vulnerable, our children, from these long-term effects.
Therefore, the Fall Issue of Water 411 will address our options for water filtration in our homes. We would also like to hear from you regarding your own concerns about your drinking water. We feel very strongly that these concerns must be given voice. Please feel free to leave a comment on this blog or to email info@water411.ca
Sincerely,
Elena Valentino
Editor Water 411
June 19th, 2007 at 7:25 am
No one on earth can “guarantee ’safe’ drinking water. Here in Ontario, one can only mitigate the risks and use good science to determine the best acceptable level of risk.
This lead issue has been with us since we started putting lead service connections in the ground in the 1930’s. Nothing is new except our heightened awareness. Just lets say that we have come a long way in a short time.
Most all distribution service mains (typically ductile iron) which may have had lead packing has been mostly replaced starting the late 1950’s. The real pickle is what is a home-owner supposed to do about their lead service connection.
Consumers beware and do your research on filtration products.