For Immediate Release
2008-06-16
Cindie Ashton, Communications Officer (613) 546-4291, extension 3116 (cell 329-3462). Or
call the City of Kingston's media hotline at 613-546-4291, ext 2300.
VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR LEAD-TESTING IN PRIVATE HOMES
The City seeks 200 qualified homeowners interested in participating in a volunteer lead-testing
program. Under this regulation, introduced last July, the Ministry of the Environment
requires the City to test the water in Kingston homes identified as receiving their water
through lead or lead-soldered pipes on their own property every six months.
The last round of tests indicates there continues to be no lead concerns associated with
Kingston's water distribution system. Out of the 322 samples collected on private property,
excessive lead level readings were found in two non-residential buildings and one home in
the central area of the city (the Ministry of Environment Standard for lead is 0.01 mg/1).
For this next round of testing, homes to be tested will be chosen at random from the pool
of volunteer participants who are located in an area likely to have homes built with lead
pipes - those with houses that were built before 1950 or homes built prior to 1990 with
non-lead service pipes, but having plumbing with suspected lead solder. Utilities Kingston
will conduct its tests at selected homes and will inform the homeowner of the test results
within a week of receiving them from the lab. Homeowners who volunteered in the past may
also be contacted for follow-up testing.
Those interested in participating in the testing can contact the Utilities Kingston
Customer Service Centre at 613-546-0000.
To complete the test, a Utilities Kingston certified operator will take three one-litre
samples of water from a faucet that has been flushed for five minutes and then left to
stand for 30 minutes. Homeowners should ask for identification before allowing anyone into
their homes to test the water.
Residents not selected for testing, but who find they have lead pipes and wish to test
their water, can call Utilities Kingston for the name of a certified laboratory.
For more information, contact the Customer Service Centre at 613-546-0000 or visit www.utilitieskingston.com/water/lead-testing.html
or www.ontario.ca/drinkingwater..
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