County responds to new drinking water quality guidelines

A presentation to Council on June 18 shared how both Strathcona County and the regional water supplier are preparing to support new Health Canada guidelines on lead exposure and drinking water quality.

Health Canada recently announced new guidelines for drinking water quality in Canada, lowering the maximum acceptable concentration for lead in drinking water to further protect public health.

When drinking water leaves Strathcona County’s water reservoirs, it contains no measurable level of lead.

“The water within Strathcona County’s distribution system is safe, clean, and meets the updated Health Canada guidelines,” says Todd Wyman, director of Utilities. “However, household plumbing materials can cause lead levels measured at the tap to exceed the Health Canada guidelines.”

The most common sources of lead in drinking water are from household plumbing (at the tap), including old solder and brass plumbing fixtures.

“While your drinking water hasn’t changed, the guideline has. It’s intended to minimize public health risk,” says Wyman. “It’s therefore important for property owners to identify potential sources of lead within their homes and take steps to mitigate their exposure.”

Residents who think their homes may have lead fixtures can take measures to reduce their risk of lead exposure.

Health Canada’s guidelines are intended to apply to average concentrations in water consumed for extended periods of time - decades. Short-term consumption of water containing lead at concentrations marginally above the maximum allowable concentration poses minimal health risks.

Lead piping was a common material used for water service lines for many years. In the Edmonton metropolitan region, homes built before 1960 often have lead piping water lines and service connections. There has been no evidence of any lead water main pipes in Strathcona County. Several excavations in Sherwood Heights, the oldest section of Sherwood Park, have confirmed no lead pipes. 

Lead can still be found in homes newer than 1960, due to household plumbing components such as old solder and brass plumbing fixtures.

The County has randomly sampled private ‘at the tap’ distribution lines for lead content, and is sharing results with Alberta Health and Alberta Environment.

Alberta Environment and Parks is responsible for regulating drinking water in Alberta, and will be setting direction for municipalities to comply with the new guideline.

“We want to ensure we’re ready to support the new guideline,” says Wyman. “We are working with our local health authority to further minimize risk of lead exposure at the tap.”

Strathcona County’s water supplier, EPCOR, has also outlined its strategy to meet the new guidelines, proposing to add a lead inhibitor to drinking water. Orthophosphate creates a protective coating on the inside of lead pipes and plumbing that prevents lead from leaching into drinking water. It is commonly used for this purpose by water utilities across North America and the United Kingdom. It is a safe and common additive to beverages and food. Approximately 104 glasses of tap water match the amount of phosphorus in one banana.

The County will begin a communications campaign on lead mitigation strategies, along with EPCOR and other members of the Regional Water Customers Group.

Find out more about drinking water quality and lead exposure.

Set in the centre of Alberta’s energy and agricultural heartland, Strathcona County is a thriving, successful and vibrant community of over 98,000 residents. Strathcona County is made up of the urban area of Sherwood Park and a large adjacent rural area of farms, acreages and smaller hamlets. It is home to 75 per cent of hydrocarbon processing in Western Canada. Strathcona County is a leader in environmental conservation, and 55 per cent of its land is within the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere. With a focus on economic, governance, social, cultural and environmental sustainability, Strathcona County is committed to balancing the unique needs of its diverse community.

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Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595