Drinking Water Quality

Annual Water Quality Reports

The Town annually prepares a drinking water quality reports that informs water users on the quality of drinking water produced. Ontario Regulation 170/03 requires that Town ensure that the reports are prepared for the preceding calendar year and made available to the public.

The Towns report includes the following information:

• A brief description of the drinking water system.
• A list of water treatment chemicals used.
• A summary of the test results covered under the reporting period.
• A summary of adverse test results and other issues, including corrective actions taken.
• A description of major expenses incurred to install, repair or replace equipment.

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Drinking Water Inspection

2021

2022/2023

2023/2024

Water Filtration Plant (WFP) Annual Report

2020

2021

2022

2023

Water Pollution Control Centre (WPCC) Annual Report

2021

2022

2023

Waterworks Summary Report

2020

2021

2022

2023

Stormwater Management System Report

2023

Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS)

A Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS) has been adopted by the Town to ensure that Safe Drinking water continues to be provided to all consumers. This Arnprior specific DWQMS involves regular internal and external audits. A link to the Town's most recent DWQMS Operational Plan and related documents can be found at the links below:

• 2023 DWQMS Update (March 2024)
• Drinking Water Quality Management System Operational Plan (2021)
• Drinking Water Quality Management System Policy (2022)
• Commitment and Endorsement Policy (March 2024)

Water Master Plan and Rate Study

Please contact the Town if you would like a copy of the Town's Water and Waste Water Master Plan and Water and Waste Water Rate Study.

What is lead and how does it get into my drinking water?

Lead is a soft metal that was used to make many products, including water pipes. Lead can enter drinking water when it comes into contact with either lead service lines or from solder containing lead. Lead can dissolve into drinking water when it sits for lengthy periods (longer than six hours) in plumbing that contains lead. Both lead and copper piping were used up until 1958 when copper water service lines became the standard in the plumbing industry. Lead-based solder was also used for plumbing until the late 1980's when changes to the Plumbing Code prohibited its use. Even with today's standards, some bronze fixtures may contain low amounts of lead.

The water that is produced by the Town's Water Treatment Plant does not contain elevated levels of lead.

How do I know if I have a lead service line?

The Town can help assess whether you may have a lead service pipe. If requested, the Town will take a sample from your drinking water tap free of charge. To arrange testing of your drinking water supply for lead please contact the Town.

Why is lead an issue in Arnprior?

Results from the lead testing program carried out in Arnprior indicated that some older properties (i.e. pre-mid 1950s) experienced levels of lead in the tap water that may exceed the regulatory standards and guidelines.

Is this a problem in Arnprior in particular?

No. Most water utilities in Ontario and North America used lead service pipes up until the mid 1950s.

What is the safe limit for lead in drinking water?

The Province of Ontario has an established regulatory limit for the acceptable concentration of lead in drinking water at 10 parts per billion (ppb) in a free flowing sample of water.

In March of 2019 Health Canada established a maximum acceptable concentration for lead in drinking water of 5 parts per billion (ppb) in a free flowing sample of water, although the Province of Ontario has not yet adopted this limit. This drinking water guideline has been developed to protect the population most at risk, namely infants and young children. Note: One ppb of lead is equal to 1.0 microgram of lead per liter of water (µg/L) or 0.001 milligram per liter (mg/L). One ppb is comparable to one second in 32 years, or 1¢ in $10,000,000.00.

Why is the safe limit for lead based on a free flowing sample of water?

Flowing water samples better reflect the overall quality of drinking water and are indicative of normal lead exposure from drinking water. Different jurisdictions have adopted different testing methods for lead in drinking water. Health Canada adopted a free flowing water test as it more accurately measures the quality of the water supplied to the customer.

Is lead harmful to my health?

Lead can affect how the brain and nervous system grows and has the most impact on the fetus, infants and children under six years old, as well as pregnant women. Infants who are fed formula made with tap water from lead service pipes could be getting the highest amount of lead from drinking water because this is their main source of food. If a young child has too much lead in the body, it can lead to a shortened attention span, intellectual, and behavioral problems.

Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother's bones, which may affect brain development.

Health Canada has made available several documents that further discuss the potential health effects of lead. The two links below will direct you to these resources:

• Health Canada - Reducing your exposure to lead
• Health Canada - Lead in Drinking Water

What is Arnprior doing to resolve the issue?

The Town has taken steps to reduce the amount of lead which can dissolve into the water by adding a small amount of food grade phosphate to the water and by adding equipment that helps to better stabilize the pH of water delivered to your home. Upgrades to the Town's Water Filtration Plant to treat for lead were completed in November 2017. This approach is used by many communities in North America, and was also recently implemented in City of Toronto.

How long will it take before Arnprior's lead control measures start to work?

Lead control upgrades to the Water Filtration Plant were completed in November 2017. The Town observed that lead levels were significantly reduced at many locations within the first year (2018) following implementation. However, some locations that were sampled following the implementation of the new treatment program continue to see concentrations of lead that are greater than the standards and guidelines.

The Town is continually monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment program in reducing lead levels and is making adjustments to the program to optimize its effectiveness.

The Town relies on residents that volunteer to have their home or business water tested in order to assess the effectiveness of the lead treatment across the Town.

How will Arnprior determine if the treatment upgrades are reducing lead levels?

The Town regularly tests for lead at customer homes, businesses and from fire hydrants throughout the year. This sampling program monitors how lead levels are changing over time, following the implementation of the lead treatment program.

Does the Town collect samples for lead from my child's school?

No, the requirement to sample for lead at schools, private schools and child care centres is the responsibility of the owner and/or operator of the school or childcare centre. The requirements for these locations to sample for lead are outlined in Ontario Regulation 243/07.

Will I notice any changes to my water as a result of the change in treatment?

There should be no noticeable changes to the taste, odour or colour of the drinking water. Please be aware that Town staff flush hydrants several times per year, which may disturb some rust within the pipes and which may therefore cause a temporary red discolouration to the water.

How can I minimize exposure to lead?

While the Town's drinking water meets Health Canada's standard when not exposed to lead service lines and fixtures, in order to reduce the amount of lead that is consumed if it is exposed to lead lines follow a few simple practices:

• Always use cold, fresh water for drinking, cooking, making baby formula and preparing beverages.
• Run your tap for one minute. Do not drink water that has been standing in water pipes for more than six hours. To rid your plumbing system of standing water, let the water run for approximately one minute or until it feels cold to the touch. You can also use the flushed water for other purposes such as plant watering or cleaning.
• For those customers that know they have a lead service line or leaded plumbing fixtures, the Ministry of the Environment recommends flushing the cold-water tap for at least 5-minutes prior to using the water for drinking or cooking if the water has not been used for 6 hours (for example, first thing in the morning)
• Flushing the toilet and washing your hands, or taking a shower is more than sufficient to flush standing water from your pipes each morning.
• Every three months or so, remove the aerator from the faucet of any taps from which drinking water is frequently taken for drinking or food preparation purposes. Clean the aerator by removing any visible particles and rinsing water through it. Take a moment to immerse the aerator in a bleach solution, and then re-install.
• If you are making plumbing changes, be sure to select low-lead or no-lead fixtures.
• Use a water filter: Look for filters certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for lead removal and reduction. You can install an end-of-tap filter on the tap you use most often for cooking or for water to drink. 
• Do not boil water in an attempt to remove lead – excessive boiling makes lead more concentrated, as the lead remains when the water is evaporated. Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Lead dissolves more easily into hot water.
• If you know you have a lead service line, the Town recommends replacing your portion of the line from the property line to your house to reduce lead exposure.

If I have lead service lines, can I use the water for bathing, showering, and washing dishes?

Yes. Activities such as bathing, showering, and washing dishes do not expose people to lead.

Who do I call if I have questions or concerns about the health effects of lead in drinking water?

Renfrew County and District Health Unit

Environmental Health

1-800-267-1097 ext. 555

Who do I call if I have questions about the lead sampling program?

Please contact the Towns Operations Department to schedule an appointment to have your water sampled for lead.