WUC Education

Community Lead Sampling

Information Bulletin

Backgrounder
Amendments made by the Ministry of Environment, Parks and Conservation (MECP) to O. Reg. 170/03 under the Safe Drinking Water Act call for the implementation of an extended lead reduction strategy designed to safeguard the quality of Ontario’s drinking water.

As part of the lead reduction strategy, the Windsor Utilities Commission initiated its Corrosion Control program (phosphoric acid) on August 10, 2016. The Community Lead Sampling program is designed to monitor the effectiveness of the Corrosion Control program.

Community Lead Sampling
The program consists of:

  • Collecting samples from interior plumbing (a minimum of 60 single-family dwellings and 10 non-residences);

  • Collecting samples in the distribution system, in close proximity to the samples collected at dwellings and non-residences (a minimum of 20 samples). 

Candidates
Windsor Utilities Commission is seeking candidates for lead sampling that are:

  • Identified as possibly having lead service pipes, due to elevated lead sample results, and;
  • Dwellings that have been monitored in the last 4 – 6 rounds of testing. 

Proposed Target Areas:

  • Locations tested previously. Residents within the proposed target areas will receive a participation letter. 

Please Note:

  • Testing is voluntary;

  • There is no cost to the customer/volunteer;

  • All information is confidential;

  • All sample collectors are certified operators, who are ENWIN Utilities Ltd. employees. 

Sampling Process
An ENWIN Utilities Ltd. staff member will arrange to visit your dwelling and collect two water samples. Due to COVID-19, two samples will be collected from an outside tap so that workers do not need to enter your home. These samples will then be sent to an accredited lab for lead analysis. The results will be shared with you, the MECP and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. 

Sampling Time Frame
Sampling will occur August 8 to August 25, 2023.

For further information regarding regulations, testing procedures or the sampling program, contact: Monica Reid, Compliance Coordinator at 519-251-7300 ext. 341.

For further information on the Safe Drinking Water Act, please visit this link.

If you would like to participate in the Community Lead Sampling Program, please contact our Call Centre: 519-255-2727 and select Option 3.