London Issues Report On Lead Pipes and Water

In six years, 4,666 homes have had water systems — mostly service pipes from the street to the home — replaced making drinking water lead-free, says a report to a city council committee.

“The proactive approach taken by the City of London had a significant impact in reducing lead levels for customers with lead service pipes,” said the report to the civic works committee.

In 2016, more than 200 homes had lead pipes replaced and the city estimates about 4,350 full lead services remain in London homes, the report said.

While the city “distribution systems” have few lead pipes, the harmful metal can be found in service pipes from the street into the home and in rare cases, in the home.

“This is a big project and an important one,” said committee member Coun. Phil Squire.

“I live in Old North and when I bought this house, it had lead pipes from the street. I had to get them replaced.”

In 2006, the city implemented a strategy to reduce lead levels at consumers’ taps. At that time, it estimated about 9,000 London homes had lead service pipes. The city offers free in-home testing of water. City staff also replace about 10,000 water meters a year and offer to test water at that time.

“Water filters can remove lead from drinking water... Still, the most effective and fool-proof method is replacement of the lead service,” the report said.

“I like programs I can see (are) a direct benefit. It is a great program and something people want to do and will do,” said Squire.

Lead systems are replaced under three programs:

• Lead service replacement program: Homeowners can hire a contractor to replace their part of the system. Average cost to the homeowner is about $1,500.
• Capital water main replacement program: The city replaces the public part of all water services on a given street as part of a larger infrastructure renewal process that also replaces the water main. Homeowners are informed of the upcoming work and offered free testing. Average cost for a homeowner is about $1,100.
• Targeted lead service ­replacement program: The city identifies and replaces the public parts of all lead services on targeted streets where the water main is not being replaced. Homeowners who replace their part of the water service at the same time pay about $1,100.

The city offers interest-free loans to homeowners who want to replace their water service pipes, collected over a 10-year period with property tax payments. The average loan payment is less than $15 a month.

The city pays the full cost of any replacement on its part of the water service.

Testing in London has indicated even partial lead service replacements reduce customer lead levels by an average of 35 to 40 per cent.

In homes built before 1953, the water service could be either copper or lead.

Source: IF Press