2009-03-24
15:36:25
Saint John’s drinking water is meeting the Guidelines for lead content under the Canadian Drinking Water Quality standards–but–some residents may still be drinking elevated levels of lead. Recent testing has confirmed levels of lead are well below the national limit when pipes have been flushed– however– traces of lead have been attributed to water sitting in fire hydrants or residential pipes.
Brent McGovern with Saint John Water says the problem is old lead pipes or pipes that have been soldered with lead. He says anyone with concerns about internal plumbing should run their water for about five minutes in the morning before drinking it. The running water will flush out any stagnant water containing leached lead. He says the only way to completely remove the problem is by replacing lead pipes, brass plumbing or fittings and leaded soldering pastes.
