Canadian cities have high levels of lead in their drinking water
A new study from Concordia Universities Institute for Investigative Journalism indicates some Canadian cities have higher levels of lead in their drinking water than Flint, Michigan, which has become synonymous with contaminated drinking water.
About one-third of the tests conducted exceeded the Canadian guidelines of 5 parts per billion with some of the highest levels recorded in Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal and Regina. Prolonged exposure to high amounts of lead over months or years can result in lead poisoning, which can cause serious health effects, particularly among young children.
There is no national mandate to test drinking water in Canada and agencies that conduct tests have no obligation to inform residents. Provinces set their own rules for water testing and lead pipe replacement. In British Columbia, where Prince Rupert recorded lead levels of 15.6 ppb, municipalities are not required to test tap water.
“To date, the investigation has found that regulations across Canada fail to confront lead as aggressively as federal regulations in the United States,” said Patti Sonntag, director of Concordia’s Institute for Investigative Journalism, in a news release.
The year-long investigation was conducted by more than 120 journalists from nine universities and 10 media groups including The Associated Press. Thousands of previously undisclosed results were reviewed and water from hundreds of homes in 11 different cities Researchers recorded lead levels above national safety directives, including at some schools and daycares.
