Northern Health has directed the City to issue a Boil Water Notice as a result of equipment failure. Crews are on site working on the issue and the City will notify the community as soon as the Notice is lifted via all official channels. We appreciate your patience while we work on critical repairs.
Home-Source Lead in Drinking Water
Due to the age of our community, many homes and businesses were built where lead solder was used in plumbing components. When water is left to stagnate, lead and copper can leach into your water supply, making it important to flush your water prior to drinking if you have copper pipes and/or are unaware of the plumbing materials used in your home. Information provided below is intended to give you knowledge to make informed decisions about water quality in your home or business.
Below are tips to assist you in reducing potential health effects from home-sourced lead in drinking water.
The City of Prince Rupert treats and regularly tests its water to ensure it is safe to drink. Nevertheless, there are sources of contaminants that may be present in individual homes in Prince Rupert, resulting from historic use of plumbing fixtures containing lead.
Lead has been limited or banned from new plumbing fixtures, but if your plumbing was installed or replaced prior to 2013, you may be increased at risk of exposure. If you do live in a home where plumbing materials containing lead may still be in place, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce or eliminate your risk.
Extended exposure to elevated levels of lead can impair cognitive function. Infants, children, and pregnant women are most susceptible to these effects. Refer to HealthLinkBC online for more details, at www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/lead-drinking-water.
As a naturally occurring substance, lead can be found in trace amounts in all water. You can obtain a home-based test to determine whether the lead present in your drinking water is high enough to warrant concern. More information on testing and sampling can be found on the Northern Health website.
Run your tap water cold before serving, especially in instances where water has been sitting in the pipes for long periods of time. When the water runs noticeably cold, you are receiving a fresh source of water from beyond the building. Avoid using hot tap water for drinks and cooking.
Replace the pipes and/or older brass fixtures containing lead in your home or business. This can be an expensive option, but will eliminate your risk of lead exposure through drinking water. Look for a CSA logo verifying low lead content on any plumbing materials:
Install lead-removing filters on your drinking water taps. These are available through your local hardware store. Filters should state that they are certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or 58 for lead reduction.
The City of Prince Rupert works hard to ensure the safety and high standards of drinking water. More information can be found on our website or by calling 250-627-0976.
Questions for Northern Health’s Environmental Health team can be directed to php@northernhealth.ca
This information was also sent to Prince Rupert homes in April of 2018, the original flyer is below:
