Background Information

Following the Walkerton Tragedy in 2000, and as recommended by Justice O’Connor, the Ontario Safe Drinking Water Act was passed in 2002. In 2007, the Ministry of the Environment & Climate Change (MOECC) Laboratory Licensing and Compliance Program (LLCP) was established to ensure drinking water test results are of high quality and can be trusted.

In Ontario, lead is rarely found in treated water leaving municipal drinking water treatment plants, in distribution systems or in private wells. Elevated levels of lead in drinking water are usually traced to four (4) primary sources:

Lead pipes in older homes (constructed before 1955)
Lead service line connections that link homes to the main water supply
Lead solder used to connect pipes
Brass faucet fixtures (>8% lead) extreme variability

Since 2003, the Ontario drinking water Quality Standard for lead in drinking water has been 10ppb. In 2007, a lead issue was exposed in London, Ontario, when elevated lead levels in tap water were detected above 10ppb. Lead levels in the City of London distribution system are well below the standard. O. Reg. 243/07 (Schools, Private Schools and Day Nurseries) was introduced with a Lead Action Plan in 2007. As a result, annual sampling began at schools and childcare centres in 2007.

Ontario Safe Drinking Water Legislation

Please follow these links to learn more about current drinking water legislation in Ontario.

Ontario Safe Drinking Water Act 2002
Ontario Drinking Water Systems Regulation - O. Reg. 243/07
Ontario Drinking Water Standards (ODWS) - O. Reg. 169/03
Ontario Drinking Water Systems Regulation - O. Reg. 170/03
https://www.ontario.ca/page/flushing-and-sampling-lead

Further Reference Documents:
www.ontario.ca/page/identify-control-excess-lead-drinking-water-schools-child-care-centres