Union Water Supply System Telephone 519-326-1668
CALLING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR LEAD SAMPLING New Lead Testing Regulations The Province has issued new regulations that require drinking water systems to take samples in homes and elsewhere to test for the extent of lead contamination in drinking water from building plumbing. This testing must be completed between December 15, 2007 and April 15, 2008, and again between June 15, 2008 and October 15, 2008. Depending on the results, this sampling may have to be done for the same periods every year. The Union Water Supply System provides water to Leamington, Kingsville, the north part of Essex and the southwest part of Lakeshore. The UWSS and the municipalities have decided to undertake a joint program through the UWSS to comply with the new regulations. To do this we must take samples in at least 180 homes; 60 in Leamington, 60 in Kingsville, 40 in Essex, and 20 in Lakeshore. The Harrow-Colchester South system supplies water to the south part of Essex. Residential samples have to be taken in at least 40 homes in this system. Background Lead in drinking water is one of the ways in which people absorb this potentially dangerous metal. Generally lead levels are very low in the source water in Ontario. For example, in Lake Erie, where Union Water and Harrow systems get their raw water, lead levels are negligible. Under Ontario regulations drinking water has been tested for lead concentrations in the distribution system and the Union and Harrow systems have consistently low levels. However, there is a potential for lead to enter drinking water as it travels through the water system from the treatment plant to your tap. Before 1952 lead piping was used for water services and for building plumbing. Lead can leach into water from lead pipe. Lead pipe has not been used since 1952. However the brass fittings and pipe solder used between 1952 and 1989 contain some lead. It is also possible for lead to leach into drinking water from these sources. The Province has decided in the aftermath of events in London that drinking-water systems should sample and test for lead levels at the taps used in homes for drinking water. The intention is to find out how much lead contamination there is in tap water. It expects that this program will show how widespread any problem is and where action is needed to reduce it.
“Serving the Communities of Leamington, Kingsville, Lakeshore and Essex”
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The sampling programs are intended to focus, if possible, where a problem is most likely, that is in buildings with known lead piping and in those built before 1952. What Needs To Be Done? The regulations require that the samples must be taken at the kitchen tap or at the tap that is most often used for drinking water. The way in which samples have to be taken is that the tap is flushed for five (5) minutes, shut off for thirty (30) to thirty-five (35) minutes and then three large samples have to be taken. The people (or persons) sampling will need at least forty-five (45) minutes to complete all of the sampling. What Does This Mean To You? We need volunteers to allow our staff into their kitchens to takes the samples required by the new regulation. The following numbers are needed: Leamington Kingsville Essex (N) Lakeshore (Maidstone & Rochester) Essex (Harrow & Colchester South)
60 homes or apartments 60 homes or apartments 40 homes or apartments 20 homes or apartments 40 homes or apartments
We need the homes or apartments to be (in order of preference): 1. 2. 3. 4.
In buildings which are known to have lead plumbing or lead water service pipes. In buildings built before 1952. In buildings built between 1952 and 1989. Any other buildings.
Without your help and cooperation we cannot satisfy the regulations imposed by the Ministry of the Environment. What Does This Mean For Your Drinking Water System? The new regulations require that samples be taken in at least 180 houses and apartments in the Union service area and in at least 40 in the Harrow service area between December 15, 2007 and April 15, 2008. If we cannot get enough residents to allow samples to be taken in their homes, the five municipal drinking water systems may be subject to disciplinary actions by the Province ranging from notices to fines and prosecution. We need your help to make sure this does not happen. What You Can Do? If you are prepared to volunteer to allow samples to be taken in your house please call: Khristine Johnson at 519-326-1668 Ruthven Water Plant at 519-326-4447
John Kehoe, P.Eng, Manager Union Water Supply System Joint Board of Management JMK/kmj
“Serving the Communities of Leamington, Kingsville, Lakeshore and Essex”
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