Protecting children from lead in drinking water
June 19, 2017
From the Government of Ontario:
Ontario is continuing to protect children’s health with new regulation changes aimed at improving drinking water testing in child care centres and schools to minimize children’s exposure to lead.
New amendments to Ontario Regulation 243/07 that take effect July 1, 2017 will now require lead testing within these facilities for all fixtures used to provide drinking water and/or prepare food or drink for children under 18.
Studies show that lead levels in drinking water from plumbing can vary substantially between individual taps or fountains. Only by testing each drinking water fixture can child care centres and schools be sure that they are not exposing children to lead through any of the plumbing within their facilities.
Since 2007, the Ontario government has been requiring child care centres and schools to flush the plumbing in their facilities and to test their drinking water for lead. Flushing has been shown to reduce lead levels in water at a tap or fountain.
Ontario Regulation 243/07 also requires testing to measure the presence of lead in drinking water against the provincial drinking water quality standard of 10 micrograms per litre, based on a national guideline set by Health Canada.
For more information about flushing and sampling for lead in child care centres and schools, visit www.ontario.ca/drinkingwater or call the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change’s Public Information Centre at 1-800-565-4923.
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