Lead in drinking water: Filtration as a fix

There is a growing concern in Canada today about how much lead is in the water we consume. For decades, many have assumed that lead in water was a thing of the past. After all, most cities have municipal water systems that test, monitor, and remove such things, right?

A Google search of “Lead in drinking water in schools” produces a long list of news stories from across Canada identifying areas where lead has been identified in the drinking water supply. Additionally, news coverage of the public disaster in Flint, Michigan has brought a heightened awareness of the harm that lead can cause.

For schools and other large public facilities where drinking fountains, water coolers, and bottle filling stations are commonly used, point-of-use filtration products can be an effective part of an overall lead reduction plan.

According to Health Canada, the responsibility for making sure drinking water supplies are safe is shared between the provincial, territorial, federal, and municipal governments. The day-to-day responsibility of providing safe drinking water to the public generally rests with the provinces and territories, while municipalities usually oversee the day-to-day operations of the treatment facilities.

Health Canada’s Water Quality and Health Bureau plays a leadership role in science and research. Its mandate and expertise lies in protecting the health of all Canadians by developing the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality in partnership with the provinces and territories. These guidelines are used by every jurisdiction in Canada and are the basis for es-

For schools and other public buildings with existing drinking water outlets, an NSF 53 certified product can be retrofitted.

tablishing drinking water quality requirements for all Canadians.

The CWQA states that lead in municipal water can be removed by applying an NSF 53 certified product. NSF/ANSI Standard 53 certified products effectively reduce lead from incoming water levels with 150 ppb of lead to below EPA action levels (15 ppb) for up to 3,000 gallons.

NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for Drinking Water Treatment is the nationally recognized standard for evaluating and certifying drinking water treatment systems for the reduction of contaminants from drinking water. Water filters are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI 53 to ensure they reduce contaminants, including lead, per the requirements of the standard.

For schools and other public buildings with existing drinking water outlets, an NSF 53 certified product can be retrofitted; alternatively, new fountains, coolers or bottle fillers can be installed which come equipped with a filter built right in. Regular maintenance is required when using filters as a lead remediation method. Should water flow decrease, the filter may need to be replaced sooner, as this may indicate that your building may have experienced a spike in particulate lead that has compromised the filter’s ability to filter lead and other particulates. Always maintain your filters per the manufacturer’s

Point-of-use filtration products can be an effective part of an overall lead reduction plan.

specifications provided with your unit, and replace your filters should output flow level be dramatically reduced, regardless of whether you are approaching the stated maximum capacity of the filter.

To confirm whether a particular brand of filter has been officially certified by an accredited certification body, be sure to check both the Water Quality Association and NSF International website listings. If you do not find the filter you are considering on one of these sites, it may not perform to the level you need for lead contamination. n