Lead Management in the RMWB

Lead is a substance that is naturally found in soil, food, and air. Lead has many industrial uses and has been used in plumbing and water service lines since the late 1880s. Lead can leach into drinking water from lead service lines and plumbing, but most humans are exposed from other sources.

While no lead service lines have been identified in the region’s waterworks infrastructure, it’s important to test for lead contaminants to ensure we maintain the high quality of drinking water in our region.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is committed to providing and maintaining high standards of drinking water throughout the region.

The Municipality regularly tests for lead and other substances in the region’s water system, in accordance with provincial requirements. Lead testing is regulated and test results have consistently shown that lead content within the Municipality’s water distribution system is well below the limit established by provincial and federal legislation.

The Municipality does not have any lead service lines or water mains. We also maintain records of all municipally-owned waterworks infrastructure (pipes, water mains etc.) that outlines when they were installed and what material they are composed of.

While we have this information, it is important to note that private home construction does play a part. The National Plumbing Code allowed the use of lead pipes until 1975 and tin-lead solder until 1986. Construction before 1960 has been used as a benchmark for use of lead as a service line material. Lead-containing materials were more commonly used in construction practices prior to 1975, and consequently occur more frequently in older homes.

Until now, we have always tested for the presence of lead in the distribution system, as opposed to the taps inside of private homes. This new residential water sampling program will help us understand the presence of lead (if any) in the private pipes of residential homes in the region.

To meet the new requirements set out by AEP and Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, the point of compliance for lead sampling is now at the customer’s tap as opposed to in the distribution system upstream from the service connection point or property line.

While the Municipality regularly tests for lead and other substances in the region’s water system, and results have consistently shown that lead concentration is well below the limit established by federal and provincial legislation, we now need to test for lead at the tap.  

This year, we are testing water for presence of lead in:

• Condominiums
• Apartment buildings
• Hospitals
• Medical centres
• Schools
  
  

 We will reach out directly to the above listed consumers to schedule water sampling. 

Homes located in the Urban Service Area of Fort McMurray, and several rural communities are connected to the Municipal waterworks system through a service line. This means that water is provided to your home, by pipe, from a municipal water treatment plant.

If you have a cistern or water tank, and your water is trucked in, your home is not connected to the municipal system.

In order to provide safe, clean drinking water to your home, the water must travel from the water treatment plant through a series of underground pipes (called the distribution system). The pipes that run through municipal property are owned and maintained by the Municipality. The pipes that run through your private property and home, are owned and maintained by the homeowner.

At the time of home construction, it is up to the homeowner/builder to install this infrastructure for the home – in compliance with the National Plumbing Code - and have it connected it to the Municipal line. As such, any issues with the private plumbing would be the responsibility of the homeowner.

Flush out your pipes before consuming the water

• Has water been sitting in your pipes for several hours? – Run the tap until its cold (about one minute) before drinking or cooking with the water from that tap.
• Only use cold tap water for drinking or cooking, since hot water increases the leaching of lead and other metals from your plumbing.

Clean your taps monthly

• Every month, inspect the aerators or screens at the tap.
• If you find debris, clean it out– this will remove any particles that may contain lead, and inspect more frequently.
• If you do not find debris, continue to inspect monthly.

Replace brass fittings

• Brass faucets and valves can contain some lead. These can be replaced with fittings that are certified to the standard on low lead content.

A household water filter at the tap can effectively remove lead from your water

• Recommended as a temporary solution.
• The filter must be installed and maintained properly or it could become ineffective.
• Test your water for lead before installation and during use to confirm the filter is working.
• Make sure that any device you purchase is certified to the NSF International standard for removal of lead.