City crews replace cast iron pipes in downtown P.A. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Drinking water

P.A. makes progress on lead pipe removal

Nov 5, 2019 | 5:00 PM

The City of Prince Albert is making headway when it comes to removing old lead pipes from the public water system and ensuring water quality remains within provincial standards.

Last year it was estimated there were over 700 lead service connections in the city. Today, Public Works Director Wes Hicks said that number is lower although the exact total won’t be known until the new year.

“There’s definitely less, because every year we’re doing quite a few. It varies from year-to-year depending on where our water main replacements are,” he told paNOW.

Hicks stressed there was no lead in the water supplied to residential areas. He added the city does not have any lead water mains. Hicks explained the city has its water tested on a regular basis to comply with provincial regulations.

“All of our tests come back with no lead,” he said.

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The issue of lead in drinking water has come onto the public radar recently after the release of a series of Global News stories which found the cities of Saskatoon, Regina and Moose Jaw have some of the highest levels of lead in the country.

Hicks was not able to provide a specific number in regards to how many lead service pipes remain in the city. He said they should have a better idea of that number when the water meter replacement program is finished early in 2020. So far, the contractor hired for the project is keeping track of the lead pipes they come across.

“We’ve only encountered 306 lead services so far,” he said.

Over time, the city plans to have all of the lead service pipes removed. Hicks said there is a limit to the number which can be taken out every year due to budget and other constraints.

Lead pipes would have been installed in houses built before 1955. Hicks said the only way to know for sure is to have the pipes inspected. He said once lead pipes are discovered, people can have them replaced, or can install a filter which will remove lead from the water.

“That’s usually the route most people go,” he said.

Residents who may have concerns about their water can apply to the city to have testing done. Hicks said to qualify for testing, residents have to live in a home that is known to have lead.

“We do test every year approximately 30 households,” he said.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn