Main content of the website

  1. Home
  2. Municipal Services
  3. Water and Waste Department
  4. Residential Lead Monitoring Program

Residential Lead Monitoring Program

  • font size:A
  • A
  • A

Be Part of The RM Of Springfield’s Lead Sampling Program

Health Canada has updated the national guideline for lead in drinking water. In compliance with provincial guidelines (Office of Drinking Water), the RM of Springfield will complete annual water sampling for lead at various residential and commercial properties across the communities on the municipal water supply system.

As part of the roll out of the Program, the community of Oakbank will be the first community under it’s Public Water System Operating License to be sampled (in 2023). The communities of Dugald and Anola shall follow in the following year.  

The RM of Springfield is currently looking for residences in Oakbank to volunteer their homes to be part of the water sampling process. Participation requires a one-time, 1-litre sample to be collected by the resident directly from a drinking water tap on their premises. Sampling will take place on Tuesdays, between 8 a.m. to Noon, between July and October. 

An RM Water and Waste Department Operations Team staff member will arrive at your property, provide you with a sample container and instructions, and send the sample to an independent laboratory for testing. The entire sampling process is expected to take less than 15 minutes. If a property is chosen to be sampled, test results will be shared directly with the resident (and landlord, if applicable) by email, along with any recommended course of action.

If you live in Oakbank, are on the municipal water system and are interested in being part of the Drinking Water Sampling Program, please complete the attached form on this page and return it to the RM of Springfield Water and Waste Department. Full completion of the form is required to be considered for the program. Submission of the form does not guarantee participation in the program. However, interested residents with eligible properties will be contacted, and all submissions will be kept on file so residents may be contacted to participate in future years. All information collected is for the sole purpose of the RM of Springfield’s Water Sampling Program, is confidential, and will not be shared outside of the requirements of this program.   

The sampling program is only open to Oakbank residential properties or home daycare properties on the municipal water supply at this time. 

To learn more and apply to be part of the program, please email waterwaste@rmofspringfield.ca or call 204-444-7359.

 

Program Prioritization

The use of lead in plumbing was prohibited in 1990 in the province of Manitoba. Municipal records indicate that no lead components were used in the municipal water distribution system. However, lead plumbing fixtures can be found in the plumbing of individual properties. The presence of lead is more likely in older homes and buildings located in older neighborhoods. For this reason, sampling priority will be based on location and age of properties. 

Residential properties identified in blue qualify for the Residential Lead Monitoring Program

 

Please Note: 

  • There is no cost to property owners whose homes are selected to participate in the program. 
  • Only properties connected to the RM of Springfield’s municipal water distribution system will be considered for this sampling program. Properties operating with a private well are not eligible.
  • Only property owners can request to participate in program. 
  • The RM of Springfield will not be completing sampling outside of this program. Property owners who are not chosen to participate, but still wish to have their drinking water tested can refer to list of laboratories that offer testing services. Please contact individual laboratories directly for testing costs and sampling instructions. 
  • Participation in this program is completely voluntary. All information collected is for the sole purpose of the RM of Springfield’s Water Sampling Program, is confidential, and will not be shared outside of the requirements of this program. 


Resources

Manitoba Residential Lead Monitoring Program
https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/water/drinking-water/lead/residential-lead.html

Manitoba Office of Drinking Water
https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/about/office-of-drinking-water/index.html

Lead in Drinking Water - Manitoba Sustainable Development
https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/water/drinking-water/lead/index.html

Lead in Drinking Water - Government of Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/water-quality/water-talk-minimizing-exposure-lead-drinking-water-distribution-systems.html

Annual Drinking Water Report - the RM of Springfield publishes an extensive annual drinking water report.
https://www.rmofspringfield.ca/p/municipal-water-systems

Government of Manitoba - Lead in Drinking Water Information for Manitoba Schools, Child Care Centres, and Large Buildings
https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/pubs/water/drinking_water/rld_largebuildings.pdf


About Lead in Drinking Water

Lead is a soft, bluish-grey metal that has many industrial uses and can be found naturally in the environment. Tap water is generally not the most significant source of exposure to lead, however, drinking water can contribute to a person’s overall lead exposure. Trace amounts can also be found in air, soil, household dust, food, and various consumer products.

Exposure to high levels of lead can cause a variety of health and developmental issues. Lead exposure has the greatest impact to infants, young children, and pregnant women.

Lead is usually found in drinking water as a result of leaching from distribution and plumbing system components. Lead is no longer used in service lines and fittings, so its presence is more likely in the plumbing of older homes and buildings. Lead can enter drinking water when a chemical reaction occurs in plumbing materials that contain lead (built prior to 1990). This process is known as corrosion – the dissolving and wearing away of metal from pipes and fixtures. 

There are no lead structures in the RM of Springfield’s water distribution system. Any lead detected in tap water will be the result of leaching lead plumbing fixtures located in older properties.

In addition to implementing an annual water sampling program, the RM of Springfield is proactive in managing its water supply and testing and monitoring regularly for all contaminants, including lead. 

Specific to lead:

  • The RM of Springfield’s water distribution system has never had any lead service piping or components;
  • The RM of Springfield has a natural ground water source; lead in ground water is minimal; 
  • All water services installations in the Municipality were completed after lead was prohibited in plumbing components;
  • Fluctuating PH levels in water can influence the rate of leaching of lead; the RM of Springfield’s water PH levels change minimally, and has always stayed within the optimal zone to minimize lead leaching characteristics;

A licensed plumber is the best way to determine if your plumbing has lead in it. They will need to enter your home to make a visual inspection of your pipes and plumbing system.

Flush your pipes. If it has been a few hours since you have used water, run a tap until the water is very cold, and then let it run for at least one more minute. This will pull fresh water from the watermain into the pipes.

Lead in pipes moves more readily into hot water than into cold water. Cold water is less likely to contain lead, even after flushing the pipes.

Avoid drinking discolored water as it may contain temporarily elevated levels of lead or other contaminants.

Filters should be NSF-certified. To be effective, filters and cartridges should be maintained and replaced as per the manufacturer. 

Be sure to contact a licensed plumber to understand your options and cost.