Higher traces of lead have been discovered in some Dauphin homes.
These homes volunteered to have their water tested as part of a provincial assessment.
Once a year, the city is required to test for lead in the water, by the Office of Drinking Water.
City of Dauphin’s Director of Public Works, Bill Brenner, talks about the current standard.
“The current standard is 10 parts per billion or .01 milligrams per litre and that is in the distribution system in the city.”
Brenner notes some homes tested quite high.
“They varied, some were right around 10 and some were higher. I don’t have the numbers right in front of me, so I can’t tell you exactly what they were but there were a couple that were quite elevated.”
The City of Dauphin currently has 445 lead service connectors still in use and this could contribute to the levels of lead in the water.
However homes that have copper piping in could have lead solder which will also reveal traces of lead in the water.
The city is willing to work with home owners to replace lead service connectors up to the property line, after that the owner is responsible for the connection to their home.
There’s an application that must be filed out to have the work done by the city.
Brenner noted the city will be testing water for those homes that are connected to a lead service line, but if home owners want to test their water, they can pay $50 for a kit, do the test, bring it to the city and they will send it away for testing.
