CITY OF WATERLOO ANNUAL (Drinking Water) REPORT

Firstly realize that this is not the same thing as the Region of Waterloo's Annual Report for the City of Waterloo. In that report the Region focus on the chemical testing of the treated water sent to the City of Waterloo. These chemicals are both industrial chemicals as well as agricultural chemicals such as herbicides (glyphosate-Roundup, 2,4-D & much more). The city themselves in their report are focusing on lead and bacteria in their distribution systems as well as products of disinfection such as HAAs and THMs (Haloacetic acids and Trihalomethanes) both of which can be toxic and carcinogenic above certain criteria. Notable by their absence is asbestos fibres in the drinking water as well as any mention of lead piping owned by the city. They list all the types of materials used in their "watermains" including asbestos-cement but do not mention lead pipes. Possibly "watermains" are defined as solely the piping under the roadway and not the secondary lines from the roadway "watermains" taking water into each individual home and building. Also possible is that all the lead piping on city property has been replaced with other material although I am doubtful. What however is very clear is that some Waterloo residents are drinking water laced with lead as this report makes that very clear. Some of the lead concentrations are more than double the criteria and some of the lead in plumbing systems is triple the criteria as well as nine times greater and one sample was 26 times greater than the criteria. For lead in the distribution system action consisted of flushing and resampling the offending site which frankly I view as doing little or nothing. Actions for lead in individual plumbing systems consisted of notifying the Public Health Unit, the Spills Action Centre and the residents of the home involved. Again I view those actions as inadequate.

Regarding the failure to even mention or advise that asbestos fibres are released from older asbestos-cement pipe or disturbed pipe I am deeply offended. Our municipal authorities seem to feel that as long as Health Canada and the federal government are willing to pretend that asbestos is a non issue, then so are they. Meanwhile other jurisdictions around the world including the U.S. have set health standards for asbestos fibres in drinking water.

By the way the concentrations for both HAAs and THMs are well below the provincial criteria for those substances.

Regarding bacteria there are some concerns. There were two instances of Total Coliforms exceeding the criteria which resulted in flushing and resampling the site but of even greater concern was one instance of E.Coli being present in the system. In this case the Public Health Unit did issue a Boil Water Advisory (BWA) which only lasted for a few days as again flushing and resampling occurred. Between gaps in the Regional testing and publishing of results as well as gaps in the municipal program there will be residents who are adversely affected by their drinking water. In most cases it will be long term health issues (chronic) versus immediate sickness (acute).