Potable water is water that is safe to drink. We use it in our daily lives at home, school, the office, or while out in the community. Health Canada has stringent standards for drinking water. In Ontario, drinking water is required to meet specific quality and safety standards.
Public Health is notified when the safety of drinking water is compromised. Public Health may issue a boil water advisory or a drinking water advisory to owners or operators of regulated drinking water systems.
We work with the municipalities to make sure your tap water contains the right amount of fluoride to protect your teeth. In Ontario, fluoride levels are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
We also support families by offering free fluoride treatments to children who are at higher risk for tooth decay. A registered dental hygienist screens children in schools and clinics, so those who need extra protection can get it.
- Community water fluoridation is a safe, effective way to reduce cavities/tooth decay.
- Fluoride is a natural mineral found in most water, even in oceans.
- Most water does not have enough fluoride to stop tooth decay. This is why some places in Canada add a small amount of fluoride to drinking water to help protect teeth.
- Brushing with fluoride toothpaste helps, but drinking fluoridated water gives extra protection and helps lower the chances of getting cavities.
Lead is present in many sources including food, dust, soil, some paint products, and drinking water. Drinking water’s contribution to total lead exposure is very low. For older children and adults, drinking water only contributes about 10% of total lead intake. Children under the age of 6 years and pregnant women are more at risk from lead exposure.
Within the City of Greater Sudbury, residents can call 311 (the City’s information line) to ask to have their water tested for lead. This service is free. Residents in other municipalities should contact their local municipality for more information.
Health Canada has established a maximum acceptable concentration for lead in drinking water of 10 ppb (parts per billion) in a free flowing sample of water (water that has been running for several minutes). This drinking water guideline was developed to protect infants and young children—those most at risk.
Note: One ppb is like one second in 32 years, or one penny in $10 million.
The drinking water provided by municipalities is regularly tested and is essentially lead-free. However, most homes built before 1952 have lead water service lines, and prior to 1990, lead solder was also used in plumbing. If water is not being used in the home and it remains “standing” in plumbing that contains lead, the lead can dissolve into the water.
How do I know if my water service line is made of lead or if my home has lead solder in its plumbing?
If your home was built before 1952, the water service line is likely made of lead. If the plumbing in your home was put in or renovated prior to 1990, lead-based solder was likely used.
Can I tell if my water service line is made of lead by looking at it?
Yes. The water pipe servicing your home or business should be located in the basement. The only visible portion of the pipe is a 50 cm section between the concrete floor and the water meter. The rest of the pipe is underground. Scratch the pipe below the water meter with sandpaper to expose the bare metal. A lead pipe will look dull grey in colour and is easily scratched by a hard object. Copper pipes are red-brown and corroded portions may show a green deposit.
If I have lead service lines, can I use the water for bathing, showering, and washing dishes and clothes?
Yes. Bathing, showering, and washing dishes and clothes does not expose people to lead.
Use cold, flushed water for drinking and preparing food. Do not consume water from the hot water tap because heated water generally contains higher lead levels.
How should I “run” or “flush” the water to lower my exposure to lead?
If water has been sitting in the pipes for 6 hours or more, the lines should be “run” or “flushed”. This means that the water should be left to run from the cold water tap at medium flow for at least 5 minutes before being consumed. Flushing the toilet and washing your hands, running a shower or a major appliance, such as a washing machine or dishwasher is also effective.
Children less than 6 years of age are still developing and are therefore more sensitive to the neurological (brain) and blood effects of lead. Children under 6 years of age also absorb lead more easily than adults. Pregnant women can pass lead in their blood to their fetus during pregnancy. That is why pregnant women need to keep their intake of lead as low as possible.
If the level of lead in the water is high, what should children under 6 years of age and pregnant women do?
- drink lead-free bottled water
- use an approved filter attached to the tap or plumbing system
- use an approved water-pitcher filtration system
Do breastfeeding people need to use filtered water or bottled water if they have elevated lead levels in their drinking water?
Continue to feed your child and follow normal precautions for reducing lead in drinking water. Although the risk of exposing your infant to lead through breast milk is low, it is recommended that those who drink tap water from homes served by lead service lines consult with their health care provider.
Are babies who receive infant formula at risk for lead?
Infant formula should be used after making an informed decision. Water used to make baby formula can contribute 40 to 60% of an infant’s lead intake. To reduce the risk, use ready to feed infant formula, or prepare infant formula with filtered water or bottled water.
Call TeleHealth Ontario at 1.866.797.0000 or speak with a health care provider about any specific health concerns.
Many water filter devices and systems DO remove lead. If you choose to use a water filter device or system, make sure that it meets the standards set by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for reducing lead. Look for NSF Certified or an NSF logo on the product label. Carefully follow the manufacturers’ instructions and be sure that:
- the water is free of bacteria (municipal water supplies are routinely tested by the municipality)
- the water is run for at least 30 seconds prior to consuming it if the filter is on the tap
- the filter is changed as recommended by the manufacturer
No, not all bottled water is lead-free. You can check this by reading the label on the bottle. Only drinking water that lists a value of zero (0) for lead (the letters Pb may be used instead of lead).
Nitrates are naturally occurring forms of nitrogen found in the environment. Nitrate is:
- essential for plant growth
- present in all vegetables and grains
- commonly used in fertilizer
Infants are at highest risk for elevated nitrate levels. The primary health concern associated with nitrate exposure is methaemoglobinaemia, or blue-baby syndrome. The nitrate enters the bloodstream where it interferes with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
The symptoms of methaemoglobinaemia include:
- cyanosis (bluish discolouration of the skin and mouth)
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
Most cases occur in infants under 1 year of age. Infants less than 3 months of age are particularly susceptible. If your child is experiencing these symptoms see your health care provider.
Municipal water is tested for nitrates and treated if the results are above the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards of 10 mg/L. Private drinking water systems should be tested for nitrates especially if infants or expectant mothers are using the water. Nitrate testing needs to be done through an accredited private lab.
Common sources of nitrate in well water are:
- chemical fertilizers used to improve plant growth
- manure from barns, storage areas, and applied to land
- waste from septic fields, leaking septic tanks, or holding tanks
- soil that contains nitrogen compounds from naturally decaying organic matter
- Find another safe source of drinking water.
- Infant formula should be used after making an informed decision. A safe source of drinking water should always be used when making formula. Water high in nitrate should not be used to prepare infant formula and should not be given to infants to drink.
- Nursing mothers and pregnant women should also avoid drinking water high in nitrate as it may be present in breast milk or transported through the placenta.
- Nitrate does not pose a risk when the water is used for washing or bathing.
- If possible remove sources of nitrate in the area.
- Inspect your well to ensure contamination cannot enter.
- Consider water treatment. Consult a water treatment specialist regarding point of use or whole home treatment systems for nitrates.
- Consider replacing your well. Elevated nitrate levels are more common in shallow, dug wells than in deeper, drilled wells.
Our role
Public health inspectors are not directly involved with the day-to-day operations of the municipal water systems.
Public health inspectors do work with officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, and water systems operators to ensure that the water is safe for consumption.
Operators of these municipal systems are trained in terms of running the plant and checking the safety of the drinking water and carrying out regular water quality testing as required by the Ontario Drinking Water Systems Regulation (O. Reg. 170/03, e-laws Ontario).
In the event that a water sample test shows an adverse result, our staff would perform a risk assessment and provide corrective actions required.
Corrective actions could range from:
- re-sampling
- flushing the lines
- issuing a drinking water advisory or a boil water advisory and order.
For more information on the day-to-day operations or if you have a question about your municipal water system, contact your local municipal office.