InfoPEI
HOME /
GOVERNMENT /
GOVINFO /
ENVIRONMENT AND LAND /
WATER RESOURCES /
Lead in Water Where can I find information about Lead in water?Lead
Lead is a naturally occurring metal that is present throughout the environment - in rocks,
soil, water and air.
While it has been mined, smelted and used in making tools and ornamental objects since prehistoric
times, concentrations of lead in the environment have increased steadily since the industrial revolution. The most dramatic increase has
been noted since the 1920s, following the introduction of lead additives in automobile gasoline.
All Canadians are exposed to lead - in air, dirt, household dust, food, drinking water and various
consumer products.
Long-term exposure to abnormal levels of lead, or short-term exposure to high levels, can seriously
affect human health. Young children are the group at higher risk to health-related problems.
Measures taken in recent years have significantly reduced human exposure to lead. The Guidelines for
Canadian Drinking Water Quality has set the maximum acceptable concentration for lead in drinking water at 0.01 mg/L.
Lead in Drinking Water
In most areas of Canada, the concentration of lead in natural water supplies is very low. In Prince
Edward Island there is no detectable concentration of lead. However, the use of lead solder in plumbing, lead service connections to the
main water supply or lead pipes in the home can contribute to significant levels of lead in domestic water. The problem is more evident
in areas with soft drinking water supplies or very acidic water (low pH) more frequently found in very old homes or very new homes.
Usually, drinking water accounts for only a small percentage of a young child's total daily intake of lead.
Lead levels in domestic water will increase with the length of time water is left standing in the
plumbing system. It is a good idea to flush domestic plumbing systems (let water run through the taps which are used for drinking) for five
minutes first thing in the morning. As well, only water from the cold tap should be used for drinking, cooking and especially for making
baby formula.
Water from drinking fountains may have higher levels of lead than water from nearby taps because it
generally sits in the fountain for a longer period and there may be more soldered joints in a given length of pipe than in household plumbing.
While the protection of the quality of drinking water is a provincial responsibility, the federal
government has amended the Canadian Plumbing Code to prevent lead solder from being used in new plumbing or in repairs to plumbing for
drinking water supplies.
Charlottetown
Jones Building
Robison, Alan (Senior Drinking Water Technologist)
| 