You may recall back in 2013 the topic of high lead levels in water in some city homes, with a Provincial study released at that time stating that approximately 3600 homes in the city built before 1950 are most likely to be effected due to the fact that pipes in that era that connect homes to water mains were often made of lead. It was all summed up quite well in this CBC story.
As part of further understanding and combating that problem, residents have been able to purchase water test kits from the city at a cost of $20 if you’re in the area with homes most likely to be susceptible and $45 if you’re outside of it.
According to a story this morning from the Brandon Sun, in the time since that initial report 1038 test kits were conducted on homes in Brandon…. 18% or 187 of which coming back with a result showing a lead level over the federal limit for maximum acceptable concentration of lead. It wasn’t clear however how many of that 187 may be multiple tests on the same home.
To help combat the problem, the City offers a $100 water filter rebate to anyone whose test comes back with a high lead level or anyone who is verified to have lead pipes into their home. Interestingly based on information obtained by the Sun just 45 residents have taken advantage of this rebate. There is also a program where the City would fund half of the cost of replacing pipe between the water main and one’s property line.
The topic has come up in numerous eBrandon discussion threads over the years, most recently this one in which members exchanged opinions on how the problem was being addressed.
The city in its communication on the topic has been clear that water leaving the water treatment plant itself is safe. You can read more at the City’s lead water services information link below:
http://brandon.ca/water-treatment/lead-water-services-information
The province has published its own question and answer sheet on the topic:
https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/waterstewardship/odw/public-info/general-info/pdf/2013_conserv_lead_in_drinking_water_fact_sheet_v10.pdf