Lead Testing Results

We have replaced all plumbing supply lines inside our house, but were concerned that there is lead in the supply line from the City, so last month we submitted a water sample to Toronto Public Health for testing. We received the results earlier this week, and the lead level in the sample was 32 parts per billion. This is not good, so we need to be careful to use filtered water for our drinking water until the supply line is replaced (we have been pretty good about doing this already, but not perfect). I thought I would do some research to see how this 32 ppb value stacks up:

• 1 ppb: Typical lead concentration for water leaving a Toronto water treatment plant
• 10 ppb: Maximum lead concentration for drinking water in Canada (consistent with WHO and USA)
• 15 ppb: EPA action level for lead concentration in drinking water
• 32 ppb: Our unfiltered tap water
• 50 ppb: Pre-1992 maximum lead concentration for drinking water in Canada

I am very disappointed in myself for not getting our water tested when we first bought the house. If you have an older home (lead piping was used until the 1950s, and lead solder was common until the 1980s), I strongly recommend you get your water tested.

The good news: this means that our supply line will be replaced (and upgraded to 3/4" copper) by the City on a priority basis; the work will be completed in the next 6-8 weeks, as opposed to the previous schedule of "sometime in the next 9 years".