Ingesting lead, even at very low concentrations, can cause adverse health effects, particularly for children. Canadian Water Network is undertaking a national project to inform decision-making and practice on lead management in drinking water in municipalities across Canada.
The project has revealed that the effectiveness of corrosion control treatments implemented by utilities needs to be evaluated, as well as the practice of partially replacing lead service lines by municipalities, as evidence suggests that this practice increases lead release.
This project investigated the short- and long-term impacts of partial lead service line replacements on lead leaching into tap water at bench, pilot and field scales over a period of three years. The experiments and monitoring were conducted in households and water utilities in four municipal distribution systems in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, and London.
This project examines the interrelationships of source water chemistry, treated water quality parameters, treatment options, and chemical reactions occurring within water distribution infrastructure that cause the destabilization of corrosion scale.