Water advocates are urging the City of Regina to remove lead service connections faster.
On Wednesday, Patricia Elliott of Get the Lead Out requested the executive committee fast-track the Lead Service Connection Management Program (LSCMP).
“If you take it as an urgent risk, and not just an add-on to road repairs, cities can really put the pedal to the metal.”
Currently, Regina is targeting 2036 to remove all roughly 3,600 lead service connections from city-owned property. So far, the city has removed approximately 33 per cent of the water pipes.
“Lead is harmful if inhaled or swallowed and can be found in air, soil, dust, food and water. It is important to reduce exposure to lead as much as possible because the health effects of lead may occur even at low concentrations,” mentions the city.
Elliott stressed the importance of removing lead, especially for those most vulnerable.
“Kids already have so many struggles; put potential neurological deficits on top of that and Health Canada will say lower IQ is associated with lead.”
Health Canada has stated the maximum acceptable concentration for lead in water is five micrograms per litre.
In the past two years, the city has tested 180 homes. Those tests revealed nearly 80 homes tested over Health Canada’s maximum acceptable concentration at least once.
Elliott recommends the city double the current work done to remove lead service connections.
Hearing community concerns, Coun. Victoria Flores (Ward 6) proposed an amendment to require an annual report on the program, while directing administration to bring back reports on requirements to rapidly advance the LSCMP, and exploring schools and community centres disturbing clean drinking water.
Lead pipes are currently found in some of Regina’s most marginalized communities, including North Central. While installing a filter is an option, some people can’t afford to pay an upfront fee even if there is a reimbursement, as Elliot noted.
Flores’ amendment also explores further consultation with people in homes or on properties with lead pipes from the city, exploring partnerships with health officials and school boards, enhancing and refining communication, and having city administration conduct more face-to-face interactions with those affected by lead pipes.
“When we work with community partners, we’re able to gather that information and use that community power to connect everybody and raise that awareness.”
The City of Regina is also moving forward with potentially changing payment plans for home/property owners, removing lead pipes.
This includes:
- Expanding access to a 10-year equalized repayment plan for private-side replacement to any homeowner. This would remove the current low-income threshold requirement.
- Administration removing the $240 fee for the five-year equalized repayment plan for the private replacement, which will align with the 10-year payment plan.
- Increasing the maximum annual filter reimbursement to $200 per year, per property.
- Adding a one-time reimbursement per property of upwards of $350 by a certified plumber.
Flores’ amendment and the annual report will see a final vote at next week’s city council meeting.
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