Lead in drinking water supply exceeds safe levels in Canada, finds investigation

The lead content in the drinking water supply of major cities of Canada has exceeded permissible levels, according to a year-long investigation.

This investigation was carried out by 120 journalists from ten media outlets and nine universities under a partnership with the Institute for Investigative Journalism.

The investigators collected the test results of 12,000 samples that had been carried out from 2014 to 2018 in 11 cities.

Out of those samples, 33% or one-third, exceeded the national safety level of 5 parts per billion (ppb), while 18% indicated more than the US permissible limit of 15 ppb.

Exposure to lead beyond the safe limit can cause low IQ in children, hypertension and heart disease. Canada also has the world’s third-largest per-capita fresh water reserve.

Among the areas studied by the investigators include Montrealand Oakville, Regina, Prince Rupert.

Concordia University’s Institute for Investigative Journalism director Patti Sonntag told the BBC: “There needs to be a discussion about whether there should be a minimum drinking water standard nationwide.”

Although Health Canada recommends guidelines, the provinces and the municipalities can independently set their own standards. The only exceptions are indigenous reserves as they come under the purview of the federal government.

Meanwhile, authorities of Quebec province and Montreal city have vowed to take stringent measures. Quebec’s current permissible limit is 10 ppb, but this is twice as high as the guidelines set by the federal government.

Lead contamination in the drinking water comes through old pipes and public service lines.

In 2017, a government report highlighted that around 500,000 homes across the country were affected due to presence of lead in drinking water.