Water coming from the City of St. John's is lead-free.
One of the sources of lead in water may be your private service line. This is the pipe that runs from your house to the City's pipe under the street - called the watermain. None of the City's watermains are lead.
Because service lines belong to the homeowner, the City does not have a record of how many of these are lead. We know there are some lead lines, but not many. When we do find them, we replace them. The City can replace a private service line for a homeowner at a fee set by Council.
It is important to reduce exposure to lead as much as possible. Health effects of lead may occur even at low concentrations. For more information, go to the Government of Canada site.
Who is most at risk from exposure to lead? |
Exposure to lead poses a risk to everyone's health. Children, infants and fetuses are most at risk because of their developing brains. |
What are the health effects of lead exposure? |
Any reduction of exposure to lead decreases the risk of negative health effects. |
What are the sources of lead in drinking water? |
Some piping, plumbing materials or fittings may contain lead.
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How does lead get into drinking water? |
As water sits in pipes for several hours, lead can leach into the water. Small particles containing lead can also break free and be carried to the tap. |
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