Health Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) say there is no safe level of lead for human consumption. In Canada, it has been banned in paint and gasoline, tin cans and toys. Lead levels in drinking water pipes are limited to five parts per billion (PPB), but it has been difficult for cities to meet this target.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA says lead poisoning can damage the central nervous system, kidneys, and reproductive system and, at high levels, especially in children, can cause coma, convulsions, and death. More than 400,000 deaths are attributable to lead exposure every year in the USA according to a 2018 study published in The Lancet.
Health Canada says that a reduction in IQ can occur in concentrations in drinking water at 5 PPB. At higher levels, lead can damage the prefrontal cortex, contribute to anti-social behavior, cause prenatal growth abnormalities, and is a risk factor for hypertension and chronic kidney disease in all age groups. A 2013 Health Canada strategy said we could save $9 billion a year in healthcare costs by better protecting children from lead.
Lead pipes were banned from use in new construction in 1975, but lead service lines continue to feed water into residences and businesses. The lead solder was used on pipes until 1986. Plumbing fixtures such as bronze and brass taps were another source until 2013 when regulations changed. Lead is mostly left to provinces to manage and only Ontario requires cities to treat water when problems are revealed.
In November, results were released following a year-long, unprecedented national collaboration between nine universities, 10 partner media companies, and more than 120 reporters, editors, students and faculty members. The Toronto Star, Global News and the Institute for Investigative Journalism were among the participants that collected test results measuring lead content in tap water in 11 cities. Out of 12,000 tests conducted by cities since 2014, 33% exceeded the national safety guidelines. In many cases, Freedom of Information applications was needed to compel governments to release results.
Test results from samples taken in cities such as Montreal, Regina, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, and Prince Rupert, B.C. showed lead levels comparable to or beyond USA cities like Flint Michigan, which made international headlines when lead in drinking water was shown to be killing residents.
Montreal previously set a goal of removing tens of thousands of lead pipes in the city by 2026 but announced in October that it was pushing that target back to 2030. The Mayor, Valérie Plante said in an interview that Montreal would spend more than $500 million to pay for the public portion of the pipes, and send bills to owners for private land replacements (repayment over 15 years). The city has estimated that nearly 300,000 people in the city could be affected by lead-tainted water.
As of 2008, Toronto’s lead levels were among the highest in Canada. It began adding a non-toxic substance called orthophosphate to the water in 2014 to control corrosion. Today less than 2% of samples exceed the standard. The process also extends the life of pipes.
Trenchless repair and replacement minimize digging and have been applied to some of the lines in Flint, Lansing, Chicago, and other cities. Technicians use linings for existing pipe and pipe bursting or splitting. Linings can be plastic tubes, sprays, or felt plus resin, which cures after it’s inserted. In some of these operations, small CCTV cameras are used to guide new tubes or liners into position. Challenges include scheduling with homeowners, avoiding existing water mains, fiber optics, and being careful not to push in basement walls. Some small cities like Flint and Lansing have completed or will complete the job in five or ten years. Most will take much longer.
A Canadian parliamentary committee said in late 2017 that old lead pipes were serving at least 500,000 homes across Canada. In the USA, Erik Olson at the Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that there are six million lead lines in the ground that will cost about $1 trillion to replace. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) suggests that pipes are being replaced at a rate of 0.5% per year.
In North America, we drink about 1 billion glasses of water per year from between 150,000 and 200,000 public water systems. We all share in the responsibility to create healthy communities for our families and ourselves. Some in our industry can be actively involved, recognizing a significant business opportunity.