In 2020, Manitoba’s auditor general presented a report on drinking water safety to the public accounts committee. An important aspect of this report included levels of lead in our water.
Unsafe levels of lead are found in homes and buildings built before the 1950s, when lead water pipe connections to the city’s water main line were standard practice. Nowadays, most homeowners don’t even know they may have this problem. I have been working to connect the province to the Manitoba Real Estate Association to collaborate on a full disclosure process that would inform home buyers of lead water-pipe connections.
In 2019, Health Canada cut lead-level guidelines in half, as lead exposure is inherently unsafe, especially to children and expectant mothers. These new guidelines included homes here in Winnipeg, demonstrating the need to for a full disclosure process.
Supplied photo
Elmwood MLA Jim Maloway is pictured with city councillor Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) at a street renewal and lead water pipe replacement work site on Munroe Avenue.
In early 2022, the U.S. government launched a national program to replace 100 per cent of lead water pipes in the U.S. That’s 10 million homes, 400,000 schools and child-care centres. Today, cities across Canada are finding ways to help homeowners replace their part of the lead water pipe connection to the main line when they’re doing their water main renewal. Almost all the street renewal we see here in Winnipeg includes separating our sewer lines and helping affected homeowners replace their lead water-main connections to minimize homeowner cost, around $3,500 per home. Cities such as Halifax, N.S., Calgary, Alta., Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Guelph and Brantford, Ont., even offer rebate and incentive programs to help homeowners.
Water is life, which is why I am advocating for processes that put the health of Elmwood families first. I’m confident that elected officials of all levels can make headway on this matter together. Collaboration is key if we are to update affected homes connected to the city’s main water lines.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 204-415-1122, email me at [email protected] or visit my web site at www.yourelmwood.com
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