A new Health Canada guideline for Canadian drinking water quality
In March 2019, Health Canada announced a new Guideline for drinking water quality in Canada. Two of the major changes are:
- Reduction of the maximum acceptable concentration of lead in drinking water from 0.010 mg/L (milligrams per Litre) to 0.005 mg/L.
- Requirement to complete testing at the tap from within a customer's home or business, instead of testing it at the property line (which was the previous requirement).
Nothing has changed overnight with the drinking water—it continues to be safe to drink. Lead in drinking water at the levels we have found is not an acute or immediate health risk but can be more of a long-term risk over time. Lead can be harmful to the health of people of all ages but particularly children under the age of six and pregnant women.
We strongly support the new guideline as it will benefit public health and aligns with our efforts to reduce lead exposure from drinking water as much as possible.
While Alberta Environment and Parks gives water utilities across the province until 2024 to address the issue of lead and meet the revised Health Canada Guideline, our plan is in action today. EPCOR has been developing a comprehensive Lead Mitigation Strategy that will enable us to proactively meet the new Health Canada Guideline for drinking water quality.