The results of a major study released Monday have suggested high levels of lead contamination could be found in some households in Moose Jaw.  

As previously reported by Discover Moose Jaw, the report indicated that 105 local homes showed readings of up to 25 parts per billion (ppb) of lead content. Health Canada has suggested that five ppb is cause for concern. 

Representatives from the City, Provincial Government, and the Water Security Agency, have said the contamination in Moose Jaw could likely be due to old lead-based water service connection lines that are present in approximately 2,000, or 16.7 per cent of Moose Jaw homes. Households with lead connection pipes are typically those built before 1970 that have not received any form of service connection replacement since construction.

According to the City’s website, water leaving the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant has shown levels of 0.0001mg/L, or 0.1 ppb lead. Water testing completed in 2010 indicated that water supplied by non-lead water service connections had only slightly elevated lead level concentrations in household water supplies. That amount may be due to lead-containing plumbing solder, brass plumbing fixtures, or only partial repair/replacement of a lead water service line.

Darrin Stephanson, Manager of Utilities for the City of Moose Jaw, said there is no concern that lead contamination could be diffused from old service lines into the main distribution line. 

"The distribution system's always pressurized," Stephanson said. "From the reservoirs out, it's applying a pressure against those small 3/4 inches or 5/8's water connections that are at various households. There's no pressure pushing back from those households, they're taking the water, not delivering, so the water mains that are always pressured are overriding those small connections." 

Moose Jaw City Manager, Jim Puffalt said Tuesday that the replacement of service line connection pipes is the responsibility of the homeowner, not the municipality. 

"We provide water to the property line,” said Puffalt. “From the property line in, that's always been the homeowner’s responsibility, that's how the systems were constructed in the first place."

According to Stephanson, there is currently a fixed cost of $8,450 to homeowners in place to replace their water service connection lines, which will also include a sewer line replacement. That payment may be put on property taxes for a period of seven years at four per cent interest. Home-owners may opt to contract the City of Moose Jaw or use an accredited private company.   

If the cost of full replacement is beyond the means of the homeowner, Puffalt said there are other ways to deal with lead-contaminated water, such as installing a filtration system in your home.  

According to research by Discover Moose Jaw staff, carbon filters can be effective in mitigating lead contamination, however, those systems are not 100 per cent reliable. The most effective and reliable way to filter out lead from your water is with a reverse osmosis filtration system which ranges in price from roughly $200 to more than $1,000.  

The City of Moose Jaw recommends that filters conform to the National Sanitation Foundation international standard for reducing lead. An up to date listing of filters can be found here

Information about your home’s specific connection lines can be obtained by calling the City’s Engineering Department. Test kits are normally available free of charge for anyone with a lead water service line, however, as of Tuesday, test kits were unavailable after supplies ran out.  

Culligan Water Conditioning in Moose Jaw offers same-day water testing free of charge.  

Here’s more from the City of Moose Jaw website: 

What can I do to reduce the Lead levels in my water supply? 

• Let your water run before consumption if it has been sitting stagnant (any form of running water helps i.e. flushing, laundry).

• Use only cold water for drinking or cooking, since hot water increases the leaching of lead and other metals from your plumbing.

• Use a household water filter at the tap.• Clean aerators and screens on all taps monthly.• Have all plumbing, faucets, and fixtures inspected for lead, lead solder, brass or bronze fittings.

• Replacement of water service line.