By Greg Higgins

No mandatory lead pipe replacement plan yet

Mar 16, 2016 | 5:44 AM

If your property has lead pipes, the city of North Battleford will not be required to replace them.

City engineer, Bob Anthony proposed a plan that would make replacing lead pipes mandatory but council decided to continue with the partial replacement instead. Trunk and connector pipes, which deliver water into individual homes, will be replaced but only up to the property line.

“This partial replacement is problematic,” Anthony said explaining cutting the lead pipe at the property line, introduces up to three times more lead to the water.

The lead concentrations are above the action level. According to the report presented by Anthony, the acceptable level is 0.01 mg of lead. Some tests showed dangerously high levels between 0.15 to 0.06 mg.

“If we don’t do a mandatory replacement then we may look like a city who had the power to do something but didn’t,” Anthony said.

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There are 370 properties in North Battleford with lead service pipes and 37 of these will be replaced this year. A lead monitoring program has been in place for a year, however only 60 properties out of 370 participated.

The city has budgeted for pipe replacement up to the property line, but the length of pipe running into a house is the homeowner’s responsibility. Anthony admitted switching pipes is costly and disruptive, and overturns parts of a resident’s yard, side walk and basement.  

Councillors may have agreed with the sentiment, but would not support the mandatory replacement of pipes.

“We have resolved administration…to continue the practice of partial lead line replacement,” Hamilton said.

Right now property owners have three options. Replace property lead lines when water main replacement projects are conducted at a discounted price. Residents could also replace lead lines at a later date taking on the whole bill. Or, as is a homeowner’s prerogative, residents could not replace their lead pipes and take on the responsibility and risk of lead levels in their water line.

Council suggested the creation of a waiver of liability that establishes the property owner as responsible for the effects of drinking water with high levels. Councillors also wanted to ensure that renters are aware if their homes or apartments contain lead pipes. 

 ghiggins@jpbg.ca

@realgreghiggins