Duane Hicks
Given only a few households showed up with levels of lead in their tap water above the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard in the most recent round of testing, the town may be able to reduce its sampling program down the road.
A recent report from Environmental and Facilities superintendent Doug Herr indicated water samples were taken at 40 residences and four non-residential sites, as well as eight fire hydrants, between Sept. 24-Oct. 2.
This is in accordance with the new provincial water legislation, Ontario Regulation 170/03, which requires municipalities to test for lead in their drinking water on a semi-annual basis.
During the process, three samples from plumbing servicing private residences tested as “adverse,” meaning the lead levels were above the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard.
In nearly all the cases, lead levels only were slightly above the acceptable level of 10 micrograms of lead per litre (usually in the 11-13 microgram/litre range).
The only exception was one residence, which scored a six on its first sample and a 28 on its second. Each residence is sampled twice.
The residents received a copy of their test results, along with a letter explaining what the results mean and what measures to take to reduce their exposure to lead in their drinking water.
The other private residences tested also received their results, as well as a letter explaining that the lead in their drinking water was below the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard.
The cost of sampling for the Sept. 24-Oct. 2 period was about $7,150. This is about half the cost of sampling in the winter months, which requires clearing ice and snow from catch basins to allow for hydrant flushing operations.
But the number of water samples, and the related cost, may be reduced in the future if one of the following requirements is met:
•in each of two consecutive periods, not more than 10 percent of all the samples taken from the plumbing and tested for lead exceeded half the standard prescribed lead level (greater than 10 micrograms per litre) and no sample tested for lead exceeds the standard; or
•in each of four consecutive periods, not more than 10 percent of all the samples taken from the plumbing and tested for lead exceeded the standard prescribed for lead.
Since the most recent sampling period saw only three locations with test results that exceeded the standard for lead, equalling 6.8 percent of the total samples and therefore less than the 10 percent mentioned in the second requirement, the town is eligible to reduce sampling requirements if three more consecutive rounds of testing turn up no more than 10 percent of samples with adverse lead levels.
Reduced sampling would lower the number of samples to 20 private residential, two non-residential, and three distribution system, which would cost the town less taxpayers’ dollars.
