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Lead Services
Lead in Windsor's Water
To learn more please select a question from the list below.
What is the regulated limit for lead in our drinking water system?
In Ontario, the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for lead is 0.010 mg/L. (O.Reg 169/03)
The Canadian guideline for lead in drinking water is 0.005 mg/L.
What are the lead levels in the City of Windsor distribution system?
The City of Windsor continues to be well served with water that consistently exceeds the guidelines set by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Lead levels within the City's distribution system, samples are collected quarterly and have historically returned values less than 0.001 mg/l, much lower than the regulated level set by the Ministry.
How can I tell if my service is of lead construction?
If your house was constructed prior to 1948 there is a possibility that the service line from the watermain to your house was constructed from lead.
To determine if your service is lead, locate your water meter (typically located in the basement) and inspect the pipe coming through the exterior wall or basement floor into the meter. If you lightly abrade the pipe using sandpaper or a dull-edged knife and the metal scratches easily, leaving a metallic shiny surface, then there is a possibility that you have a lead service. To verify if the service is lead, pass a magnet over the surface of the pipe. If the magnet is NOT attracted to the pipe, then the service is likely made of lead. If the magnet is attracted to the pipe, then the service is likely galvanized pipe. If the pipe is plastic or has the colour of a copper penny when abraded, then the service is also not lead.
What is Windsor Utilities Commission doing about remaining lead services in the distribution system?
Windsor Utilities Commission has an ongoing capital program aimed at replacing underground infrastructure. During watermain replacement projects, when lead service lines are discovered, they are replaced from the watermain to the property line. The homeowner is encouraged to have the lead service replaced at their own cost if it extends onto private property.
What are the benefits of replacing a lead water service line on my property?
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 an extended lead reduction strategy to safeguard Ontario’s drinking water quality.
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 monitors the effectiveness of this program.
Community Lead Sampling: The program consists of collecting samples from interior plumbing (at least 60 single-family dwellings and 10 non-residences) and the distribution system (at least 20 samples) near the collected dwelling samples.
Candidates: Windsor Utilities Commission seeks candidates for lead sampling who are identified as possibly having lead service pipes or who 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 and ENWIN Utilities Ltd. employees.
Sampling Process: An ENWIN Utilities Ltd. staff member will arrange to collect two water samples from an outside tap to avoid entering your home. These samples will be sent to an accredited lab for analysis.
Sampling Time Frame: Sampling occurs twice a year, in winter and summer.
For more information, contact: Monica Reid, Compliance Coordinator at 519-251-7300 ext. 341.
For more details on the Safe Drinking Water Act, visit this link.
To participate in the Community Lead Sampling Program, call 519-255-2727 and select Option 3.