Drinking water

Adult drinking water from a glass

Safe drinking water is essential for many everyday activities like drinking, brushing teeth, washing food and cooking. In Ontario, drinking water must meet specific requirements known as the Ontario Drinking Water Standards to ensure it is safe to drink.

Lead in drinking water

Lead is an element that can be found in the environment naturally, and as a result of human activity. For more information visit our lead page.

Health effects of lead exposure

Long-term lead exposure can lead to problems with thinking, muscles weakness, increased blood pressure, and kidney dysfunction in adults; and can affect mental and physical growth in children. Short-term high levels of lead exposure can cause stomach aches, kidney injury, muscle weakness, and brain injury.

Acceptable standards of lead in drinking water in Ontario

10 micrograms per litre, as per Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards, O. Regulation 169/03.

Water leaving a municipal water treatment plant is regularly tested and is lead free. Lead can enter your drinking water from:

Lead service lines (pipes) in homes built before 1950.
Lead solder in plumbing used to join pipes before 1990.
Leaded-brass fixtures, such as faucets and valves.

Testing for lead in your drinking water

The only way to know if lead is in your drinking water is to test for it. To test your drinking water for lead, contact a MECP licensed laboratory. Contact KFL&A Public Health for help interpret your drinking water results and to discuss corrective measures.

Reduce exposure to lead from drinking water

There are simple actions you can take to reduce exposure to lead from drinking water:

Flushing
- Lead levels increase in water as it stays in the pipes. Flush or run your water until it is cold, for at least one minute. Flush aerators occasionally to remove debris.
Filtration
- Install a filter that is certified for lead reduction and achieves National Sanitation Foundation or NSF standard 53, 58, or 62.
Replace or remove fixture
- If faucets and valves are leaded-brass, replace them with lead-free material or if the fixture can not be replaced, do not use water from this faucet or valve for drinking or cooking.

For more information on how to reduce lead in water, contact KFL&A Public Health or view Drinking Water: What about Lead? from the Government of Canada.

For more information about lead testing in our community:

Utilities Kingston Community Lead Testing Program, 613-546-1181, ext. 2291.
Lead sampling in schools and child care centres.

The Government of Canada also has information and guidelines for sodium and nitrate and nitrite in drinking water.