I have been on hiatus for a while, dealing with some family issues, but be assured the lead water service line issue is still on my mind.  I have not abandoned the cause just because my own water service line is now lead-free.

In fact, I have just recently delivered a presentation to the local Rotary Club about our experience with replacing our lead water service, and I am still doing some research in my spare time.  I am not especially fond of public speaking - it takes some significant motivation.

BTW - The image this time around is a bit tongue-in-cheek.  Hey, I wonder if all that lead paint might explain the extreme behaviour south of the 49th these days?  

In all seriousness, we have managed to get rid of lead in paint, in gasoline, and even banned it from new plumbing decades ago - so why do we still allow these old water pipes in the ground?

To give some credit on that note: the American jurisdictions appear to be years ahead when it comes to replacing lead water service lines, so in some ways at least, we can follow their example.  And some provinces (hooray Quebec) are doing the right thing.

For example, some cities across Canada, like Montreal, have followed our southern neighbours' example and now have on-line interactive maps so that residents can easily determine whether they might have a lead problem.    NPR even has an app that walks you through checking your own water service entrance.  Nice!

Closer to home, I had to update the main petition page for a couple of reasons:

1. Brockville went through their annual budgeting exercises and a photo of the public side replacement of our water service made the Water and Wastewater budget page, along with the subtle admission that over 300 properties may still have lead water services, and that there is a mandatory $150K budget for that, and;             
2. The Ontario Infrastructure Minister recently announced a $175-million Health and Safety Water Stream under the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP), to cover up to 70 percent of the cost of projects aimed at improving existing infrastructure; this represents a significant opportunity to expedite replacement of lead water service pipes, although each municipality has to apply for the funding (and the election put things on temporary "hold").  Will (Brockville take advantage?  Time will tell.)

I also learned that in 2019, the results of a year long investigation by over 120 journalists across Canada was published.  This was a significant feat, involving 10 different media organizations, 12,000 individual water tests in 11 cities.  At that time, 33 percent exceeded the national safety guideline of 5 parts per billion (which is still half of the current Ontario standard - c'mon Ontario, whazzup?).  It was estimated that 500,000 homes in Canada remain affected, although no province had an official inventory (and probably still do not).

Since some detractors will defer to budget concerns, consider that from that report - "A 2013 Health Canada risk management strategy predicted an economic benefit of more than $9 billion a year “if the exposure of Canadian children to lead could be eliminated.” 

$9 billion per year!  In 2019 dollars!

That sure would be helpful in these trying times when our southern neighbour is threatening our economy.

So, yes, even if the health risk doesn't grab your attention, there is definitely a business case here.

BTW,

At the current budget allowance for annual replacements, it might take another quarter-century to replace all of the lead water service pipes in Brockville - something surely needs to be done to speed this up or offer some kind of support in the meantime.

So, the petition is not dead.  Please sign or forward to improve awareness of the issue. 

When this started almost a year ago, we had no pressure. 

Now, we are trying to keep the pressure on - for change, that is.

More updates to follow.