• Filters should conform to the National Sanitation Foundation(NSF) International standard for reducing Lead (NSF/ANSI 53)
• An up to date listing of filters can be found at http://www.nsf.org/certified/dwtu.
• BOILING WATER DOES NOT REMOVE LEAD, in fact it can increase the Lead content

• The Buffalo Pound Water Administration Boards 2018 Annual Report stated that the lead content in the treated water at the plant was less than 0.0001 mg/L.

The lead content entering the city water distribution system is 0.0001 mg/L at High Service Reservoir, less than 0.00001 mg/L at North Hill Reservoir and 0.0002 mg/L at South Hill Reservoir.

• Your household must have a private lead service line.
• Sample selection is random.
• Each year there will be a different selection of residents
• Testing occurs in late summer/early autumn. If you have a lead service connection you may call 306-694-4450 and ask to be placed on a lead testing program list. (The City performs up to 60 random lead tests per year).

Sample bottles are available at: City Hall, 228 Main St N, 3rd Floor Engineering Department Homeowner will take their sample. Instructions are as follows:

• Service line must sit stagnant for at least 6 hours (do not run water not even to flush toilet) (easiest time for most homes is overnight).
• Sample must be taken at first draw of water from the drinking(cooking) water tap.
• Fill out the form attached to the bottle. All information must be completed to obtain accurate results.
• Return the sample to City Hall Engineering department.
• There is a cost of $30.00 to cover lab analysis and shipping*.
• *Applicable if your home does not have a lead service line or if done more than annually.
• The City will transport your sample to an accredited laboratory (Roy Romanow Provincial Disease Control Laboratory).
• Call toll free 1-866-450-0000.
• Analysis takes 2 to 3 weeks and you will receive the results in the mail.

• When samples were taken at least two samples from one area were taken.
• Analysis of the results indicated that elevated lead levels are localized to specific homes.
• The city of Moose Jaw does not have any water mains made of lead.

• Your home may have a lead water service line if it was built before the early 1960’s
• Lead is generally grayish-black and is easily dented when scraped with a knife

Lead	Copper

To find out if the pipe that connects your residence to the main is made of Lead you may contact the City of Moose Jaw Engineering Department Public Works Division. We may have a record of the type of service line pipe used for your water service

Lead may be present in household tap water due to its presence in the service connection or in the household plumbing systems containing lead. When water sits in household plumbing, small amounts of lead can dissolve into the drinking water.

Testing completed in 2010 by the City of Moose Jaw indicates that only a small percentage of non-lead water service connections had slightly elevated lead level concentrations in the water drawn from the kitchen tap after a minimum 6 hour stagnation period.

The source of lead in the drinking water from non-lead water service lines may be lead containing plumbing solder, brass plumbing fixtures, or only partial repair/replacement of a lead water service line with a non-lead service line

http://www.saskh2o.ca/waterinformationfactsheet_drinking_private_health.asp
http://www.health.gov.sk.ca
http://www.healthcanada.gc.ca/waterquality

• 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, cooking and making baby formula
• Use a drinking water treatment device
• Clean aerators and screens on all taps
• Have all plumbing, faucets, and fixtures inspected for lead, lead solder, brass or bronze fittings
• Replacement of water service line

A water service connection is the pipe that carries water from the water main buried under the street into the residence or business

Water service connection pipes are/were typically made of lead, copper or PVC

• Lead is a common natural metal found in the environment
• A heavy bluish gray metallic element that bends easily
• Lead was used in many products, such as gasoline, paint, solder, pottery, crystal, plumbing hardware and water service lines
• Lead can be found in air, soil, drinking water, food, and various consumer products
• Lead is in both outside and inside environments

Health Canada has a maximum allowable concentration of 0.010 mg/L

Action level guideline of 0.015 mg/L

Currently when we expose a service connection that is Lead the city crews replace the city portion of the service and offer the option to the homeowner to pay for their side of replacement

Lead is toxic and in excess quantities can affect and damage internal organs, may cause anemia, and possibly affect the memory

Small and unborn children are particularly susceptible to the effects of Lead

The city is responsible for the service connection from the property line to the main

The owner is responsible for the service connection from the property line to the home as well as all the internal plumbing within their home

Property line is approximately where your outside water shut off valve is located

The city of Moose Jaw is sampling and testing water from households with lead and non-lead water services, in accordance with guidelines and recommendations developed by Health Canada. The sampling program will allow the City to determine the potential risks associated with elevated lead concentrations as a result of lead leaching into drinking water in both homes with lead and non-lead water service connections

In the right water conditions and with stagnation small amounts of lead can dissolve or leach into the water within the water service connections and homeowners’ pipes from lead water pipes, lead containing brass fixtures and lead solder.