Report to: General Committee                                                        Report Date: May 26, 2008

 

 

SUBJECT:                  Community Lead Testing Program – Status Report (1)

PREPARED BY:       Helena Dutaud, Water Quality Coordinator, System Engineering

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report “Community Lead Testing Program – Status Report (1)” be received;

 

AND THAT staff report back to Council with the findings of the Community Lead Testing Program after completion of Sampling Period # 2.

 

And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not applicable

1. Purpose                     2. Background                      3. Discussion                        4. Financial        

 

5. Others (Environmental, Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units)             6. Attachment(s)

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an update on the status of the Community Lead Testing Program, upon completion of the first period of sampling (December 15, 2007 to April 15, 2008).

 

BACKGROUND:

On July 26, 2007, the Drinking-Water Systems Regulation O. Reg. 170/03, (Schedule 15.1) was amended requiring mandatory Community Lead Testing for lead (Pb) in Drinking Water.  Sampling is required bi-annually; Period #1 (December 15 to April 15) and Period # 2 (June 15 to October 15).  Markham is required to sample a minimum of 100 locations from plumbing that serves private residences; 10 sampling locations from plumbing that does not serve private residences; and a minimum of 20 distribution samples. The sampling locations must be on a volunteer basis, representative of different geographical areas throughout Markham and given priority to the following:

            1) Buildings that have a lead service line or lead plumbing;

            2) Buildings constructed before 1990; and

            3) Any other properties.

 

At the October 09, 2007 General Committee meeting, Council requested that some Town owned heritage buildings be included in the testing program.

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

 

Response from Markham Residents:

 

Staff developed a campaign to solicit volunteers from the community to participate in the lead testing program.

An information package was created and delivered by mail in early November, 2007 to a total of 22,300 residences in the older areas of Markham including Thornhill, Old Unionville and Markham Village. The information package included information regarding Markham’s Community Lead Testing initiative, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) summary sheet and information on how to volunteer with the Town.  Program information was also posted on Markham’s Town website.  The response was extremely positive with approximately 898 residents expressing interest to be part of the lead testing program.

 

All the residential volunteers expressing interest (898) were found to have no lead services or lead plumbing.  The sampling locations for the first period were all homes pre-1990 chosen on a first call basis representing different geographical areas from throughout Markham.

 

The requirement to undertake community wide sampling is a permanent requirement under O. Reg. 170/03.  Waterworks selected 148 residential test sites (minimum required is 100) to account for potential future program resident drop-out over time.

 

Sampling and Results:

The first period of sampling began on February 07, 2008 and was completed on March 26, 2008.

 

Of the ten non-residential locations tested for lead, five were Town Heritage buildings – Heintzman House, German Mills C.C., Thornhill Village Library, Museum School House and Warden House.

 

The following is a summary of the lead test results taken in the first period:

 

Type of Sample

# Samples Taken by Markham

# of Samples

Required By O. Reg 170/03

Lowest Value (mg/L)

Highest Value (mg/L)

Drinking Water Quality Standard

(mg/L)

Non-Residential (Tap)

10

10

0.0001

0.0038

0.010

Residential (Tap)

148

100

<0.0001

0.0037

0.010

Distribution

80

20

0.0002

0.0046

0.010

 

Results of all testing taken during Period # 1 were acceptable, well below the Standard for Lead of 0.010 mg/L.

 

O.Reg. 170/03 Compliance

The Town of Markham has met all the testing requirements for lead prescribed by Schedule 15.1 of O. Reg. 170/03 for the first period of sampling (Dec. 15, 2007 to April 15, 2008). 

 

 

Notification of Results

All participants who were chosen to be part of the first period of sampling have been mailed a copy of their sampling report accompanied by a letter explaining the results (see Attachment A – Example).

 

A summary of the first period of testing has been posted on Markham’s Website providing general information for all Markham residents. Contact information was also posted on the website in the event program participants did not receive their results through the mail.

 

 

Program Review and Next Steps

Following completion of period # 1 testing, a Program Review Meeting was held with all the groups involved in the various stages of the Community Lead Testing Program on April 14, 2008. This review meeting was found to be useful in identifying the areas of the program that worked well and any areas that could be improved (along with constructive suggestions) to increase the efficiency of the next period of lead testing.

 

Preparation for next period of lead testing (June 15 to October 15, 2008) has begun.  The same residential test locations will be used for the next period of testing and affected resident volunteers will be contacted in May 2008 by Waterworks to schedule appointments beginning shortly after June 15, 2008.

 

Currently Markham has a large volunteer database to choose from should current residential test locations drop out of the community lead testing program. Should new volunteers request to be part of the lead testing program, they will be registered and screened according to the Regulation guidelines and placed in the Waterworks queue.

 

Staff are continuing to develop programs to remove sources of lead in the drinking water system through:

·        Watermain replacement of cast iron and ductile iron watermains that may have leaded joints or lead tipped gaskets

·        Investigating alternative engineering materials (low lead brass fittings and couplings at main and curb stops

·        All Markham’s meters now have low lead content components

 

There are no known lead services in the Town. Whenever a lead service is discovered, through Waterworks maintenance programs, such a service is replaced.

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

Not Applicable

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not Applicable

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

Not Applicable

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

The Community Lead testing program enhances several key Waterworks service delivery components:

·        Proactive and preventative strategies to identify and manage risks to public health;

·        Continuous Improvement of Waterworks activities and service delivery;

·        Due diligence for Council as owners of the Drinking-Water System.

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Not Applicable

 

 

RECOMMENDED BY:   ________________________   

                                            Jerry Klaus,

                                           General Manager, Waterworks

 

 

 

                                      ________________________         

                                      Peter Loukes, P. Eng.

                                      Commission Lead, Operations and Asset Management

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A – Example Lead Testing Results letter mailed to resident volunteers.