The vice president of Water Operations at the Windsor Utilities Commission is telling residents they can drink their tap water without fears of lead poisoning.
Garry Rossi responded to a massive water study with disturbing results about the level of lead in the nation's drinking water, including in Windsor.
The study took samples over two years starting in 2016, just after the utility implemented a corrosion control program. It said the city had 289 samples exceed the national guideline put in place by Health Canada in March. It calls for no more than five parts per billion of lead in drinking water.
In Ontario, the standard is ten parts per billion, although the province is working to meet the national guideline.
Rossi told BlackburnNews.com since implementing corrosion control, there has been a 98 per cent reduction in lead content.
"We've had one exceedance over the ten parts per billion, and that's the regulated limit, in 2018 out of all the samples that we've taken," said Rossi.
He also reassured residents there is no lead in the municipal water supply or the distribution system, but plumbing on private property is out of the utility's hands.
"Internal plumbing we really don't have any control over, but we still have technology and treatment so they can feel safe taking that drink of water from their tap," he said.
As for its portion of the service lines, the utility has been replacing the ones that made of lead. Of the 15,000 service lines identified as problematic, he said there are still 6,000 hookups that need replacing, and that should be done by 2026.
Meanwhile, the Windsor Utilities Commission is committed to further lowering lead levels.
"Both the Windsor Utilities Commission board and the utility is committed to dropping lead as low as achievably possible," said Rossi. "Our mandate is to get it as close to zero if not zero at these people's homes and businesses."