Lead Water Problem in Tap Water, Lead Pipe Replacement Program, Water Filters For Canada

Lead Water Problem in Toronto Tap Water

Recommended water filters for removing lead from drinking water

Children and pregnant women are in most danger!
Lead water poisoning symptoms and effects

If you live outside Toronto, pls. contact your local city health office for information on lead in water in your area -- any old-age house using lead pipes may also have lead contamination.

Toronto Public Health Water Advisory

City of Toronto has recently sent out notice (November 2009) to households notifying them of the important concern and health problems of drinking tap water with lead contamination. They found that lead water concentration in tap water from older homes (that are serviced by a lead water service/pipe that has not yet been replaced) is above recommended safe level. Action is advised.

The full City of Toronto notice titled “GET THE LEAD OUT OF YOUR TAP WATER” can be read from link below.

Tip: Forward this website to friends and family that may be affected. Aside from potential lead, there can be more than 500 different types of contaminants in tap water. Water filter is the best investment you can do for your family

Homes built before the mid-1950’s may have lead pipes.

· Lead can dissolve into your drinking water over time, especially in standing water.

· Infants, young children and pregnant women are most at risk. Lead exposure adversely affects brain and nervous system development. EXTRA precaution steps for this group include installing certified lead-reduction water filter.

· Precaution steps include:

Flush pipes that have not been used for awhile
Use cold water for cooking, drinking
Install a water filter that can remove lead.

· GTAwater carries a full line of certified lead reduction/removal water filters: AQ-4000, Spring1000, RO-SpringWater Reverse Osmosis.

· Replace the lead pipes. See Toronto's Lead Lead Pipe Replacement Program below.

More information on lead and the Toronto Health Advisory:

City of Toronto notice titled “GET THE LEAD OUT OF YOUR TAP WATER” that was distributed to residents in November 2009.
Toronto Public Heath: Lead In Drinking Water
Toronto Water Issues and Lead Pipes and Drinking Water Factsheet
Free Lead Test Kit from city
Toronto Lead Water Service Replacement Program
CBC article on price quotes for replacing lead pipe on private property

Certified water filters for removing lead from drinking water

Recommended Lead Water Filter

NSF-53 Certification and California Department of Health Certification for Reduction of Lead are two well known organizations that certifies water filter for lead removal.

For highest quality and best value, we at GTAwater recommend the following certified lead water filters that will give your family clean drinking and cooking water on demand. Remember, you must use filtered water for both cooking and drinking. Boiling water will only kill bacteria.

Spring1000 (counter top) BUY NOW

NSF Certified Components
CB3 filter in system is certified to remove lead and the following contaminants

Sediment

yes

Cryptosporidium

yes

Taste & Odor

yes

Lindane & Atrazine

yes

Lead

yes

VOCs(+/-)

MTBE

yes

Flow Rate**

0.5 gpm

Micro Rating*

0.5

Children and Pregnant Women Are In Most Danger! Lead Water Filter is the Solution.

Children and pregnant women are most vulnerable to lead poisoning. Since children’s brains are still developing, lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, lowered IQ, attention-deficit disorders, anti-social behaviour, damage to the central nervous system and developmental problems. This is a frightening issue of great concern for parents, the good news is that a good quality water filter can remove the lead.

How Big Is The Problem?
Lead poisoning from drinking water is such a major concern right here in Ontario that it has prompted every major city to require schools and day-care centres to test for lead annually. Many day-care centres use lead water filters. There are many reports from both government departments and public health organizations which advise pregnant women and young children not to drink unfiltered lead water from the tap. There is no safe level for lead - any amount of lead is poisonous. In Canada and the USA, all buildings that were built before 1990, even those that have copper piping, contain water piping that is joined with lead-based solder. Therefore, anyone drinking tap water or cooking with tap water is at risk of lead poisoning. Lead water filter is the solution.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released statistics showing that nearly 1 million children aged one through five continue to have elevated blood lead levels. If you currently do not have a lead water filter, the very minimum that you should do is to flush your tap for a few minutes before anyone consumes it. You should never make baby formula with unfiltered tap water. Use tap water only after a lead water filter.

Canada's CBC news sampled water from homes across the country and found 15 out of 50 homes – nearly one-third - had lead levels above the national guideline. Whereas, the other 35 homes with level less than national guideline is also not safe to drinking because any amount of lead is poisonous. One even had levels at 250 times the allowable limit. Look at the results on the right side of this page. If you live in the city, then you are at risk. If you live in a home built prior to 1970, then you are probably consuming water containing high lead levels because your home likely contains lead-soldered pipes.

Lead Soldered Pipes
Typical in Homes

"Most of the problems came from homes built before 1970. Of the 25 homes we tested that were built before 1970, eleven had high lead levels." Full CBC Report

Montreal city officials sent out alerts to 75,000 houses advising them their drinking water might contain slightly more lead than called for by provincial standards. Reported By Gazette newspaper.

Every parent wants their children to grow up healthy and intelligent by providing the best we can for them. However, it is very unfortunate that the government does not do more to educate the population about the dangers of lead poisoning from tap water. The public needs to be better informed.

Lead poisoning from drinking water is a serious matter. Get a lead water filter that is certified by either NSF or California Department of Health as they have very strict requirements.

NEVER drink or cook from your hot water tap, and especially not for making baby formula. Hot water dissolves more lead more quickly than cold water. Use a lead water filter.

More info on lead: Symptoms and effects of of lead poisoning
FREE Lead Test Provided by City of Toronto City, call 416-392-2894.

Note: The cost of replacing your water pipes in your house can cost about $4000, the simplest solution for people to use a good lead water filter.

CBCnews reports on high level of leads in tap water across the country

Toronto, ON
Age of Home	First Draw Level	Flushed Level
Pre 1970	0.013	0.002
Pre 1970	0.013	0.002

Hamilton, ON
Age of Home	First Draw Level	Flushed Level
Pre 1970	0.035	0.002
Pre 1970	0.014	0.008
Post 1970	0.010	0.002

Vancouver, BC
Age of Home	First Draw Level	Flushed Level
Pre 1970	0.047	0.002
Pre 1970	0.019	0.006
Pre 1970	0.025	0.002

Winnipeg, MN
Age of Home	First Draw Level	Flushed Level
Pre 1970	0.022	0.017
Pre 1970	0.050	0.007

Saint John, NB
Age of Home	First Draw Level	Flushed Level
Pre 1970	0.043	0.021
Pre 1970	0.036	0.002
Post 1970	0.253	0.004
Post 1970	0.054	0.002
Post 1970	0.011	0.002
Post 1970	0.033	0.002

416-392-2894

Barbara McElgunn of the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada says that reduced IQ is just one result of lead exposure. She maintains there is no safe level for lead.

The greatest tragedy of lead contamination from drinking water is that it is completely preventable. By taking a few simple steps, beginning with Point-Of-Use lead water filtration, we can virtually eliminate the crippling effects of lead on our society, and most importantly on our children.

BOOK MARK NOW: CTRL + D , SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

Lead Poisoning Symptoms and Effects

Symptoms of lead poisoning

- headaches
- abdominal pain
- vomiting
- irritability
- weight loss
- attention deficit disorders
- slow speech development
- hyperactivity
- anti-social behaviours

Effects of lead poisoning

- Lowered I.Q.
- Reading and Learning Disabilities
- Speech and Language Handicaps
- Mental Retardation
- Neurological Deficits
- Behaviour Problems
- Kidney Disease
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Death

How does lead leach into water?

In many buildings that were constructed before 1996, the plumbing pipes, fittings, and fixtures can leach lead into the drinking water above the current standard. For instance, brass is an alloy of copper and zinc to which lead is added to increase its performance for die casting, the process which plumbing valves, faucets, and couplings are made. When in contact with water, the brass can leach lead into the water through the process of corrosion.

Do a flush before consumption

The leaching rates vary with the quality of the water and the age of the plumbing. Also, the lead concentration in water increases as it sits in the pipe. Therefore, lead concentration is the highest in the morning because water sitting over night.

It is recommended that you flush the water for 3 minutes in the morning before drinking from the tap. The lead concentration can be 10 times higher comparing to after flush. It is found that the lead concentration can build back up to 80% within 2 hours after you flush the water. Therefore, the first recommendation is to get a filter that removes lead. The other option is to flush your water before you use the water for consumption or for cooking.

Premium Lead Water Filter

BUY NOW

BOOK MARK NOW: CTRL + D , SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR FRIENDS.