In 2007, the Provincial Government implemented a Regulated Lead Testing Program under which Toronto Water was required to collect, analyze and submit the results of water samples taken in areas suspected of having lead water service pipes. Under the original program, twice a year, Toronto Water collected and reported the results of samples from:
In 2009, Toronto Water began developing a Corrosion Control Program as mandated and approved by the Province under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
During the design and implementation of corrosion control (2009-2017), the Province required the City to collect and analyse 20 samples from the water distribution system twice a year. Results are shown below.
In 2014, the City implemented corrosion control by adding phosphate to the drinking water treatment process at the four water treatment plants. Phosphate forms a protective coating inside all pipes and household plumbing fixtures, which helps to reduce the potential for lead to enter tap water. Recent results indicate a reduction in lead levels.
In March 2017, Toronto Water resumed the regulated sampling program, which includes taking samples throughout the year from at least:
These results are submitted to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
Period | Locations | # of Locations |
Lead Result – ug/L |
% of Samples > 10 ug/L |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Max. | Min. | Avg. | ||||
Round 21 January 2019 |
Residential and Non-Residential Taps | 116 | 9.4 | <0.05 | 0.50 | 0 |
Distribution System | 20 | 1.2 | <0.05 | 0.16 | 0 |
Period | Locations | # of Locations |
Lead Result – ug/L |
% of Samples > 10 ug/L |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Max. | Min. | Avg. | ||||
Round 20 January |
Residential and Non-Residential Taps | 58 | 35.7 | <0.05 | 1.2 | 1.7 |
Distribution System | 21 | 0.93 | <0.05 | 0.14 | 0 |
Period | Locations | # of Locations |
Lead Result – ug/L |
% of Samples > 10 ug/L |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Max. | Min. | Avg. | ||||
Round 19 January |
Residential and Non-Residential Taps | 55 | 73.2 | <0.05 | 2.8 | 1.8 |
Distribution System | 10 | 0.85 | <0.05 | 0.28 | 0 |
Period | Locations | # of Locations |
Lead Result – ug/L |
% of Samples > 10 ug/L |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Max. | Min. | Avg. | ||||
Round 18 June 2016 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 1.2 | <0.05 | 0.3 | 0 | |
Round 17 December 2015 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 0.65 | 0.06 | 0.2 | 0 |
Period | Locations | # of Locations |
Lead Result – ug/L |
% of Samples > 10 ug/L |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Max. | Min. | Avg. | ||||
Round 16 June 2015 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 1.2 | 0.06 | 0.3 | 0 | |
Round 15 December 2014 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 104 | 0 | 7.9 | 3 | |
Round 14 June 2014 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 0.96 | <0.05 | 0.3 | 0 | |
Round 13 December 2013 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 1.9 | 0.07 | 0.6 | 0 |
Period | Locations | # of Locations |
Lead Result – ug/L |
% of Samples > 10 ug/L |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Max. | Min. | Avg. | ||||
Round 12 June 2013 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | <0.5 | <0.5 | <0.5 | 0 | |
Round 11 December 2012 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 1 | <0.5 | 0.3 | 0 | |
Round 10 June 2012 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 8 | <0.5 | 0.9 | 0 | |
Round 9 December 2011 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 2 | <0.51 | 0.6 | 0 |
Period | Locations | # of Locations |
Lead Result – ug/L |
% of Samples > 10 ug/L |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Max. | Min. | Avg. | ||||
Round 8 June 2011 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 4 | <0.51 | 1.1 | 0 | |
Round 7 December 2010 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 0.7 | <0.51 | 0.1 | 0 | |
Round 6 June 2010 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 2 | <0.51 | 0.5 | 0 | |
Round 5 December 2009 |
Private Residential Plumbing | |||||
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | ||||||
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | ||||||
Distribution System | 20 | 5 | <0.51 | 0.7 | 0 |
Period | Locations | # of Locations |
Lead Result – ug/L |
% of Samples > 10 ug/L |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Max. | Min. | Avg. | ||||
Round 4 June 2009 |
Private Residential Plumbing | 100 | 22 | <0.51 | 6.1 | 18 |
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | 18 | 22 | 11 | 16.9 | – | |
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | 10 | 15 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 1 | |
Distribution System | 21 | 4 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | |
Round 3 December 2008 |
Private Residential Plumbing | 102 | 38 | <0.51 | 3.9 | 7 |
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | 7 | 38 | 11 | 16.9 | – | |
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | 10 | 4 | <0.51 | 0.7 | 0 | |
Distribution System | 21 | 4 | <0.51 | 0.8 | 0 | |
Round 2 June 2008 |
Private Residential Plumbing | 100 | 82 | <0.51 | 11.9 | 52 |
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | 52 | 82 | 11 | 18.6 | – | |
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | 10 | 6 | <0.51 | 0.8 | 0 | |
Distribution System | 21 | 5 | <0.51 | 0.6 | 0 | |
Round 1 December 2007 |
Private Residential Plumbing | 100 | 14 | <0.51 | 3.8 | 6 |
Private Residential Plumbing – (Lead > 11 ug/L) | 6 | 14 | 11 | 12.8 | – | |
Non-Private Residential Plumbing | 10 | 2 | <0.51 | 0.6 | 0 | |
Distribution System | 20 | 6 | <0.51 | 0.7 | 0 |
Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard for Lead = 10 ug/L (micrograms per litre)
Results with “<” means less than the Method Detection Limit