News Release
For immediate release
June 7, 2007
ONTARIO TAKES ACTION TO ADDRESS LEAD IN WATER
Acting on Expert Advice Will Keep Ontario Families Safe
QUEEN’S PARK — The Ontario government will implement recommendations made earlier this week by its Drinking Water Advisory Council and advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and Chief Drinking Water Inspector to expand water safety protections and reduce potential levels of lead intake for pregnant women and children six and under.
“Lead levels in blood samples of Ontarians have fallen dramatically during the past three decades, due to the phasing-out of lead in paint, gasoline and water pipes,” said Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. George Pasut. “While the health risks are minimal, and drinking water is a minor contributor to blood lead levels, today’s action will further protect pregnant women and children six and under in older neighbourhoods with elevated lead levels.”
“Let there be no misunderstanding: tap water in this province is among the safest in the world, and today’s actions will make it even safer,” said Jim Smith, Ontario’s Chief Drinking Water Inspector. “Adjusting water chemistry in municipal systems so it picks up less lead should effectively resolve this problem.”
The government’s action plan builds on the expert advice
of Ontario’s Drinking Water Advisory Council, Chief Drinking
Water Inspector and Chief Medical Officer of Health. Ontario’s
action plan is aimed at protecting those most vulnerable to lead:
pregnant women and young children living in older neighbourhoods
in certain communities. Today’s actions help protect
drinking water from being contaminated by lead after it leaves
the municipal water treatment system.
The action plan includes the following:
- Starting today, schools and day cares must test for lead annually. Any of these facilities built before 1990 must flush their systems daily, rather than the existing weekly standard.
- A proposed new regulation to make it mandatory for municipalities to regularly sample for lead at a specified number of taps, notify home and facility owners of the results from their taps and take corrective action in systems with elevated lead levels.
- Assisting low-income parents with infants and young children and pregnant women living in older neighbourhoods with the cost of filters where they are recommended.
- Providing expert advice to municipalities to adjust water chemistry in municipal systems to pick up less lead.
- Encouraging municipalities to conduct public education campaigns, such as inserts in water bill mailings.
- Providing best practices for municipalities to help make lead line replacement more affordable for homeowners, such as on-bill financing.
The regulations requiring flushing and testing of water at day cares and schools take effect immediately and are available on Ontario’s Environmental Registry at www.ontario.ca/environmentalregistry. The registry number is 010-0734. The other regulatory amendments are being posted for public comment over the next two weeks. The registry numbers are 010-0743 and 010-0490. Following public input, the government will put the new regulatory requirements into effect.
The Ministry of the Environment dispatched water inspectors to London after water testing revealed higher-than-acceptable lead levels. Ontario Environment Minister Laurel Broten asked the Drinking Water Advisory Council (ODWAC) to expedite a review of a draft federal guideline on corrosion control that could reduce leaching of lead from service lines and plumbing. The Chief Drinking Water Inspector ordered 36 communities to undertake immediate testing. The advice provided by ODWAC last week included extending monitoring and testing and new corrosion control programs. That advice along with input from the Chief Medical Officer of Health and Chief Drinking Water Inspector are the foundation of today’s action plan.
“Our top priority is the health and safety of the people of Ontario,” said Broten. “Today, we’re mobilizing a plan that demonstrates the government’s ability to keep the people of this province safe.”
“The province's Chief Medical Officer of Health has advised me that the health risks of lead in drinking water are minimal," said Ontario Minister of Health George Smitherman. “However, there is reason for caution and action directed at young children six and under, as well as pregnant women, who routinely consume water in older neighbourhoods where lead pipes and plumbing still exist.”
“In Sierra Legal’s national Drinking Water Report Card released last fall, Ontario was top of the class”, said Dr. Anastasia Lintner, staff lawyer and economist with Sierra Legal. “ We expect even our A students to strive for continuous improvement in drinking water protection, as demonstrated by the Ministry of the Environment’s timely response to this public health issue.”
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- Backgrounder: Supportive Statements For The McGuinty Government's Actions On Lead And Water
- Summary Report: Ontario Tap Water Order for 36 Municipalities - Summary of Lead Results Based on Tap and Distribution (Hydrant) Sampling
| For further information: | |
Anne O’Hagan David Spencer |
John Steele David Jensen |
| Contact information for the general public: 416-325-4000 or 1-800-565-4923/ www.ene.gov.on.ca |
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Last modified: June 12 2007.