The Canadian Environmental Law Association has just released a report condemning the practice of partial lead water service line replacements - "the primary source of lead in residential drinking water". See the report here:
This report specifically calls out Ontario for prolonging the misguided and potentially harmful policy employed by many municipalities to replace only portions of existing lead water service lines as a means to defer the cost of full replacement.
It also reminds municipal decision-makers of their responsibility to ensure the provision of safe drinking water and their authority to mandate full lead service line replacements through by-law.
If you are just "joining" in, a service line is the underground pipe that brings water to your urban house from the water-main under the street. For many older homes, these pipes were made of lead, which is a known neurotoxin. Some jurisdictions still encourage the outdated practice of connecting a homeowner's new replacement water service pipe to the city's existing lead pipe (LSL), despite the potential to cause higher lead concentration in downstream drinking water. So-called partial LSL replacements are a half-measure that prioritize budget over public health. Never allow your municipality to convince you to accept a partial LSL replacement.
Never.