Tag Archives: Lead in water

Halton Region Calls Upon Ontario’s Ministry of Education to Remove Lead Pipes from Schools

December 10, 2019

In a December 6, 2019 article in the Toronto Star entitled, “Tainted water revelations spark calls for action across Canada“, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton was cited as one of 24 Halton Region Councillors who voted unanimously in favour of a resolution calling on Ontario’s Ministry of Education to remove lead pipes from the region’s schools.

 

After concerning findings of a national tainted water investigation, many jurisdictions across the country are calling for action, including demands for replacement of lead pipes running to homes and schools, replacement of lead fixtures in public buildings, better testing and increased transparency on results of lead testing. Experts agree there is no safe level of lead in water.

Oakville Mayor Burton’s concerns about lead in water in schools stem from findings that more than 2,400 schools and daycares in Ontario exceeded the federal guidelines for lead in water over the past two years, with some tests showing lead levels more than 200 times more than the federal safety standard. Burton said, “Since education has been starved for a long-time, I appreciate they weren’t rolling in money to go after the problem. It’s a provincial responsibility so we thought we would call on the Ministry of Education to get the lead out.”

Halton Region politicians also wrote a letter to Education Minister Stephen Lecce, asking for swift action to resolve lead in water in Ontario’s publicly funded schools. Mayor Burton said that if the provincial government fails to take action, that would be “an abdication of the province’s responsibility for schools“. Burton went on to say, “we just want the government to do its job, and I think anybody thinks the job of the ministry is to teach kids and keep them safe while they do it.”

 

 

How the Country’s Largest School Board is Handling the Issue of Lead in Water at Schools

November 21, 2019

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is the largest school board in Canada so we were curious to learn more about how this school board handles the issue of lead in drinking water at its schools. When we inquired, we heard back that:

Each year,  as required under Ontario legislation, the TDSB conducts testing for lead in drinking water. This legislation was amended in 2017 and requires school boards to test all sources of drinking water in every school for the presence of lead over a 5 year period. Over the last 3 years, the TDSB has conducted testing on every fixture used for drinking water and/or food preparation in every elementary school and will complete testing at the secondary level by fall 2021. Ontario legislation permits us to finish by 2022.  Based on those test results, the Board is required to undertake a number of potential strategies to ensure that the water in schools is safe to drink.  The primary strategy used is daily/weekly flushing of fixtures. However, we also replace fixtures as required. 

Furthermore, we heard back that:

  • All exceedances are reported to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation & Parks (MECP) within 24 hours.
  • Corrective actions are taken immediately for each exceedance and reported to the local Public Health Unit and the MECP.
  • When an exceedance impacts the entire plumbing system, the school is provided with alternative drinking water (e.g. bottled water) and parents are notified.
  • When there is an exceedance in the standing sample, that specific fixture will be flushed daily. When there is an exceedance in the flushed sample, the fixture is taken out of service immediately to eliminate any further risk to occupants of the building. Re-sampling or replacement of the fixture is done in accordance with the standards set out by Ontario Regulation 243/07.   If permanent removal of the fixture is recommended, this is reviewed with the head caretaker and principal.

Of note is that the TDSB must follow provincial guidelines for lead in water, which allow for up to 10 parts per billion (ppb) of lead whereas the federal guidelines are more stringent and allow for only up to 5 ppb. Therefore, it seems evident that Ontario ought to make some changes to its guidelines to ensure they are as stringent as the federal guidelines in place.

We found the following on the TDSB website, which provides additional detail to the responses provided above. We’d encourage parents in other school boards to find out how their local school board handles the issue of lead in water at schools and send us details!

Drinking-Water Safety in Schools from TDSB Website:

The City of Toronto’s water treatment facilities are some of the best in the world. Designated drinking water sources in our schools are safe to drink and are tested on a regular basis, according to provincial regulations.

Samples are collected between May 1 and October 31 each year as per Ontario Regulation 243/07. All samples are analyzed by an independent laboratory certified by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). Based on sampling results, a variety of corrective actions are taken, which may include more frequent flushing at individual fixtures or throughout the entire school. From time to time, a drinking water source may be taken out of service to conduct upgrades or make repairs to the fixture/tap. The vast majority of TDSB schools have no reported lead exceedances in their drinking water. When exceedances occur, they are dealt with immediately and corrective action is taken. In Ontario, results over 10 ug/L (micrograms per liter) or ppb (parts per billion) of lead are considered exceedances. Health Canada recommends 5 ug/L (or ppb). Ontario schools are subject to Ontario standards. Please see the Questions and Answers below for more information on drinking water in TDSB Schools.

What is a “designated drinking water source”?

Designated drinking water sources are water sources designated for consumption such as:

    • Water fountains
    • Bottle filling stations
    • Taps in kitchens, food preparation areas, staff rooms, and childcare areas

Is the water in TDSB schools safe to drink?

Yes, drinking water in our schools is safe to drink. We follow Ontario Ministry regulations by testing our drinking water sources for levels of lead and flushing our plumbing on a regular basis to ensure the highest quality of drinking water.

What is the process for testing drinking water sources?

As per our protocol and according to provincial regulations, the TDSB tests drinking water sources for lead at its 582 schools on an annual basis. This is in addition to the water testing conducted by the City of Toronto.

In order to test the water, two samples are taken: one is a “standing water” sample, which is taken from the tap/bottle filling stations after all the water has been sitting for a minimum of six hours. The other is a “flushed” sample that is taken after running the tap/bottle filling stations for a minimum of five minutes and letting it sit for 30 minutes. Samples are sent to an independent lab certified by MECP.

What happens if there is an exceedance?

When there is an exceedance in the ”flushed” sample, the fixture is taken out of service to eliminate any further risk to occupants of the building. Re-sampling or replacement of the fixture is done in accordance with the standards set out by Ontario Regulation 243/07.

When there is an exceedance in the standing sample, that specific fixture will be flushed daily.

The TDSB ensures a safe drinking water source is available within the school while individual fixture exceedances are being investigated or addressed. In Ontario, results over 10 ug/L (micrograms per liter) or ppb (parts per billion) of lead are considered exceedances. Health Canada recommends 5 ug/L (or ppb). When measuring exceedances, the Toronto Star used Health Canada, not the Ontario benchmark. Ontario schools are subject to Ontario regulations.

How often are drinking water sources flushed at TDSB schools?

Based on sampling results specific to your school, there are three options:

    • The school conducts weekly flushing on Mondays.
    • The school conducts weekly flushing on Mondays, and specific individual fixtures require daily flushing.
    • The school conducts daily flushing, Monday through Friday.

Does the TDSB inform parents when there is an exceedance?

The provincial government doesn’t require school boards to notify parents in case of exceedances. However, when an exceedance impacts the entire plumbing system and the school is placed on an alternative drinking water method (e.g. water bottles), principals notify parents. These cases are rare as usually, only individual fixtures are impacted.

When an individual fixture is impacted (e.g. it needs to be replaced) and it is taken out of service, the school principal is informed, but no notification will be sent to parents. However, the TDSB will ensure that all students have access to a water source nearby. In either instance, the principal is notified and a corrective action taken.

Why is it important to test drinking water sources for lead?

Lead found in tap water usually comes from the corrosion of older fixtures or the solder that connects pipes. In certain circumstances, extended contact between standing water and these components can cause the lead to be released from the pipes.

When the tap is turned on, water that has been standing in the pipes may have accumulated lead levels that exceed Ontario’s standard for lead.

Recent media coverage on safe drinking water suggested that the City’s advice to residents to “flush” water in their homes before testing it may not provide a true representation of lead exposure. Some experts have suggested that testing should be done before flushing for more accurate results. While flushing usually washes residual lead away, flushing before testing may not alert residents to lead residue in the water. What does the TDSB do to get the most accurate results?

The media was referring to the advice the City provides for residential water systems (e.g. home or apartment dweller). Schools and childcare centres are held to a much higher standard of testing and flushing than residential water systems, and testing is governed by rigorous procedures set out in government legislation and regulations. The procedures are as follows:

The collection, analysis and reporting around lead sampling is overseen by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks and very clearly outlined within Ontario Regulation 243/07.

TDSB follows the sampling process as outlined within the Ontario legislation.

    • Water sits a minimum of 6 hours
    • 1st sample is collected before flushing (standing water)
    • Flush 5 min, let it sit for 30 minutes
    • 2nd sample (after flushing) is collected (flushed water)
    • In circumstances where lead is detected through the analysis, the standing sample usually shows a higher concentration, demonstrating that the flushing is in fact doing the job of washing the residual lead in the system away.

What are the changes introduced by the provincial government in 2017?

On July 1, 2017, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) formerly known as the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change amended Ontario Regulation 243/07 (Schools, Private Schools and Child Care Centres) under the Safe Drinking Water Act , introducing new requirements for the testing of drinking water sources.

Under previous provincial legislation, the TDSB tested nearly 600 fixtures each year. Under the revised regulation (Ontario Reg. 243/07), approximately 11,000 fixtures need to be tested. As a result, the Board has identified which fixtures were for drinking water or food preparation and which were not.

The TDSB, similar to other school boards, decided that, for testing purposes, most classroom taps would not be designated as drinking water sources for consumption. It’s important to note that all students have access to a nearby safe drinking water source.

As part of the amendments to Ontario Regulation 243/07, schools boards are required to sample all designated drinking water fixtures over a period of three years for elementary schools and five years for high schools. Once the three or five-year period is over, and unless new amendments to the regulation are introduced, school boards will be required to sample a minimum of one fixture per school, per year.

Why are the “Handwashing only” signs displayed on some fixtures?

While the source of water is the same throughout the building, the “Handwashing only” signs are a visual indicator that these fixtures are not considered ‘drinking water sources’ and are not tested for lead. Instead, these fixtures/taps are to be used for handwashing and other classroom purposes only (e.g. washing brushes used in art classes or lab pipes).

Hand washing poster with the words

Where can I find the water test results for my child’s school?

All sampling results are kept in the ‘Flushing and Sampling for Lead in Drinking Water Systems’ binder in the head caretaker’s office. It provides information on the location of designated drinking water sources in the school as well as test results. Parents can request from the principal to review this binder on-site at any time.

Who can I contact for additional information?

If you have questions regarding drinking water in our schools, please contact your child’s school.

Additional information on water sampling results can also be found in the ‘Flushing of Drinking Water Systems’ binder at your school which can be accessed through the principal, during normal school hours

 

How Much Lead is in Your Water?

November 5, 2019

In the November 4, 2019 edition of the Toronto Star, an article entitled, “Is there lead in your tap water? Canada-wide investigation exposes dangerous levels of toxic metal” started off by stating, “that hundreds of thousands of Canadians are consuming tap water laced with high levels of lead leaching from aging and deteriorating infrastructure”.

This article is the culmination of a year-long investigation by more than 120 journalists from nine universities and ten media organizations. This investigation revealed that 33% of water tests exceeded the national safety guideline of five parts per billion. The article suggests that “government oversight is often lax and secretive” when it comes to lead in our water, stating that “lead testing data in Canada is rarely made public and some municipalities aren’t required to test”.

In Ontario, where the Fix Our Schools campaign is focused, government data shows 919 lead exceedances over the past two years:

  • In London, Ontario, 50% of tests conducted last year exceeded federal safety guidelines for lead in drinking water.
  • Windsor had the highest number of lead exceedances over the past two years.
  • Many water systems across Ontario did not test for lead in water at all over the past two years.
  • Out of Ontario’s 660 municipal water systems, only 123 of them posted results of tests taken at homes during the past two years and of those 123, 42% of these municipalities showed lead exceedances.

Health Canada and the World Health Organization both agree that there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. In fact, a single glass of water highly tainted with lead can elevate a child’s blood lead level to require hospitalization. Reduction in IQ can occur even at the 5 parts per billion – the level of lead deemed safe in Canada. At high levels of exposure, lead can cause damage to the prefrontal cortext of the brain and contribute to anti-social behaviour and behavioural problems in children.

 

According Bruce Lamphear, a leading Canadian drinking water researcher, lead in our tap water is “clearly a major public health problem, even if it’s an insidious one.

According to a new report from the Canadian Environmental Law Association to be published this coming week, “the current state of drinking water delivery in Ontario means that Ontario residents, their children, pregnant women, and their unborn fetuses, may still be at risk of lead exposure and lead poisoning from the lead plumbing components of their homes, schools, daycares, and workplaces.” This report calls on Ontario to change legislation to require a minimum of 75% of municipal lead service lines be replaced within three to five years.

However, funding is cited as a limiting factor. Water officials across Ontario told reporters that municipalities are many years – or decades – away from being able to pay for replacing all lead service lines; and that municipalities would need funding assistance from both federal and provincial levels of government. Another challenge of addressing lead in our tap water is that there is no provincial or federal inventory of lead lines so even with funding, municipalities may not even know where to start replacing lines.

 

Given that in 2013, Health Canada predicted an economic benefit of $9-billion per year if the exposure  of Canadian children could be eliminated, there appears to be not only a moral imperative to address lead in our drinking water but also an economic one. Fix Our Schools has been calling for a Standard of Good Repair in Ontario’s publicly funded schools for years now – one that would include a standard for our children’s drinking water in schools. Lead in our drinking water is an insidious public health issue – and one that, indeed, must be addressed sooner than later. More transparency on data is needed and more advocacy and more oversight.

 

All Education Workers Play a Critical Role in Our Children’s Schools

September 19, 2019

$15.9-billion of disrepair has been allowed to accumulate in Ontario’s publicly funded schools because of gross provincial underfunding to school boards for over two decades.

  • Underfunding of school renewal and repairs
  • Underfunding of operational maintenance
  • Underfunding of new schools

Operational maintenance is carried out by the very important people in our children’s schools known as caretakers and custodians.

 

These hard-working individuals are the people who may set up tables in your children’s school gymnasium each day to transform it into a lunchroom. They may be the people who enable a community event to readily take place at your local school. They are most certainly the people who clean your children’s schools and take care of many routine maintenance items. They are also the people who are charged with the task of “flushing the lead pipes” every morning to ensure lead doesn’t get into our children’s drinking water at school.

https://twitter.com/Veeshandle/status/1174291662568349697?s=20

A good caretaker can work magic and make an older school with a number of outstanding larger repairs still feel safe, clean, healthy and generally a pleasant place to be for 6-8 hours each day.

According to economist Hugh Mackenzie, increased provincial funding for operational maintenance is a key component of an overall provincial funding strategy that would enable school boards to truly Fix Ontario’s Schools and eliminate the $15.9-billion repair backlog in schools. Mackenzie estimated that an 8.7% increase in provincial funding of operational maintenance was needed – totaling $165-million/year.

And yet, under Doug Ford’s government, we know that as of September 2019, there were 53 fewer caretakers in the TDSB’s 600 schools. We don’t have data yet for other school boards. However, we do know that more – not less – caretakers and custodians are needed to ensure all Ontario children attend schools that are safe, healthy and well-maintained.  We also know that Education Assistants and other Education Workers such as office staff all play an important role in ensuring our children’s schools are safe, clean and welcoming each day.