Lead test results leave residents’ questions unanswered By: Maggie Macintosh Posted: 7:00 PM CST Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 Last Modified: 6:51 PM CST Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 Updates

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This article was published 18/12/2019 (1788 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After learning some neighbours’ test results show lead concentrations as much as 22 times the national guideline, inner-city residents want answers about their tap water.

But there are 2,300 names on the City of Winnipeg’s sampling wait list — and the city’s free annual testing program won’t start up again until spring.

It is a terrible thing to read on the news that you may have [22] times the lead that’s supposedly OK in your water that you’re feeding to your grandchildren, who are two and five," said Catheryn Martens, 67, a lifelong Wolseley resident.

Earlier this week, the city published the results of its random August water-sampling program of 268 homes across Winnipeg.

The testing was undertaken after the national standard for the safe concentration of lead in water was updated to 0.005 mg/L.

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Of the 83 homes tested in Daniel McIntyre, 17 per cent tested above the guideline. The greatest concentration of lead in tap water (0.10822 mg/L) was found in the downtown ward, although the amount found in taps decreased drastically after residents flushed their lines. (The 0.10822 mg/L test result was registered after a minute of flushing.)

The city estimates there are approximately 5,496 homes with lead pipes in the area, which is home to many pre-war buildings.

“It would almost be better if it was a central water problem, because then at least you could attack the source or do something at the water treatment plant,” said Christian Cassidy, housing co-ordinator for Daniel McIntyre St. Matthews Community Association.

“It is a terrible thing to read on the news that you may have 58 times the lead that’s supposedly OK in your water that you’re feeding to your grandchildren, who are two and five.” – Catheryn Martens, lifelong Wolseley resident

Cassidy said now the challenges are the city’s limited free testing, getting the word out to residents about how to tackle the problem,and convincing landlords to undertake costly replumbing projects (more than half of the area residents live in rentals). As well, he said there is no financial assistance for low-income residents to put in copper pipes.

Flushing is the solution the city, local councillor and a doctor with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority have offered up after the results were released.

No Daniel McIntyre samples taken after five minutes of "flushing" — meaning: running the taps, taking a shower or doing another activity that requires water run through pipes for that length of time — surpassed the national guideline.

Out of precaution, Wolseley resident Angela Senak has started doing just that. A mother of two, Senak runs her taps for five minutes when she wakes up, so her toddler and four-year-old aren’t exposed to excess lead.

“Just to be safe — I know it’s an older home and older neighbourhood,” Senak said, while out for a walk with her two sons Thursday afternoon.

The WRHA has recorded two inpatient lead-exposure cases in 15 years. Dr. Heejune Chang, a medical officer of health at the authority, said it’s “very unlikely” either was linked to contaminated water, since severe poisoning is a product of acute exposure, such as working closely with the neurotoxin.

Even small amounts of exposure can cause serious problems as it accumulates in the body over time. Development delays, learning difficulties, sluggishness, abdominal pain and seizures are all potential health effects.

Coun. Cindy Gilroy said the city’s next round of free testing has to take place during the warmer months, between May and October. She said the city plans to focus on areas that are “high-risk,” such as her ward. The city also plans to launch an educational campaign about lead in pipes.

While some residents are frustrated about the unknown, others are waiting patiently to find out if they have to invest in costly upgrades.

Lindsey McBain, 40, was one of the lucky ward residents to get a test — but three months later, he still doesn’t have results. The father of two knows he has about four metres of lead pipe under his front yard.

“I want the city to be appropriately proactive in measuring to make sure that we are safe,” he said from his doorstep Thursday. “I’m not super concerned, but I want to know if we are safe.”

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie