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Health Canada

'Very important project': New pipeline brings much-improved drinking water to Tottenham residents

'Very important project': New pipeline brings much-improved drinking water to Tottenham residents

The recently completed pipeline extension to Tottenham has brought major improvements to the community’s drinking water, the Town of New Tecumseth reports. The town said testing performed following the pipeline’s activation June 1 showed levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) reduced by about 50 per cent from May. The annual running average has dropped to 82.7 micrograms per litre (µg/l), and the town says this level is expected to decrease further as the pipeline continues to be used. THMs are a byproduct of the chlorination process and, according to Health Canada, have been linked in some studies to potential health risks, like an increased risk of cancer following long-term exposure at high levels.

City reacts as EPA reduces safe levels of PFAS in drinking water

City reacts as EPA reduces safe levels of PFAS in drinking water

n the wake of news from south of the border that could eventually affect drinking water standards and their regulation in Canada, the City of North Bay is sharing its preliminary findings on the potential local impact. On June 15, the U.S.-based Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new advisories regarding some per- and polyfluororalkyl substances (PFAS), which significantly reduces the safe level of these microscopic chemicals in drinking water from the previous standard.

Manitoba testing community's drinking water for lead

Manitoba testing community's drinking water for lead

The Manitoba Government is monitoring the drinking water in a number of communities to test for lead. On Tuesday, the province confirmed it is working with water systems to find any lead exposure in Manitoba’s drinking water. This comes after Health Canada created new guidelines for lead in drinking water in 2019, prompting the Manitoba government to adopt the guidelines as the standard. The province also created a lead in drinking water website and developed an operation guideline for water systems. When it comes to lead monitoring programs, the province is prioritizing older, larger water systems that have known or suspected lead services. Lead monitoring was brought into Winnipeg in 2019 and then Brandon in 2021.

Thawing permafrost can expose northerners to cancer-causing gas, study says

Thawing permafrost can expose northerners to cancer-causing gas, study says

Thawing permafrost might be exposing people in northern Canada to higher levels of a naturally-occurring gas that causes lung cancer, says a new study out of the U.K. Paul Glover, the study's lead researcher, said permafrost has been acting as a "hidden guardian" by keeping radon locked in the ground in the circumpolar Arctic and preventing it from travelling to the Earth's surface and accumulating in buildings.

Indigenous communities to be hit with ‘ecological grief, loss of land and traditional knowledge’ because of climate crisis

Indigenous communities to be hit with ‘ecological grief, loss of land and traditional knowledge’ because of climate crisis

The list of how the climate crisis is affecting Indigenous communities is long — and everything on it is to the detriment of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people says a new report from Health Canada. “The changing climate will exacerbate the health and socio-economic inequities already experienced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, including respiratory, cardiovascular, water- and foodborne, chronic and infectious diseases, as well as financial hardship and food insecurity,” says the report called Health of Canadians in a Changing Climate that was released Thursday.

Health Canada releases assessment report on effects of climate change on health

Health Canada releases assessment report on effects of climate change on health

The price of climate change is real. This crisis has already taken lives in extreme heat waves, and is increasing risks to Canadians from flooding, and from respiratory illnesses like asthma. Bold, urgent action is not only needed – the science is clear that it will make a real difference. Many of these health impacts can be prevented by scaling up efforts to adapt to climate change in an intersectional manner—both in Canadian society at large and in health systems. Strong adaptation measures can prevent potential health impacts and make health systems and facilities more resilient to climate change.

Iqaluit water treatment plant shut down over fuel contamination

Iqaluit water treatment plant shut down over fuel contamination

The City of Iqaluit shut down its water treatment plant Wednesday after the water was contaminated last week with fuel for the second time. The city said a breach in the system is suspected to have caused residents to smell fuel in their water, with breaches detected last week and Wednesday. The city said it is using a bypass system to pump water to residents instead and the entire territorial capital is now under a precautionary boil water advisory.

Eight new substances added to U.S. carcinogen report

Eight new substances added to U.S. carcinogen report

In the latest report, chronic infection with the bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, has been listed as known to be a human carcinogen. H. pylori is a spiral bacteria that can enter the body through food, water or utensils, lives in the digestive tract and is behind most stomach ulcers. It is thought to penetrate the mucous lining of the stomach to establish infection and can lead to stomach cancer. It is more commonly found in countries with less established infrastructures surrounding clean water and sewage systems, but spread from one person to another is possible through saliva or other bodily fluids.

Water quality advisory issued for Horse Lake

Water quality advisory issued for Horse Lake

The Cariboo Regional District has issued a water quality advisory, to the Horse Lake water users as a result of levels of manganese (Mn) in its drinking water supply. The quality of the drinking water has not changed, but the move is due to changed Canadian guidelines for drinking water. Health Canada established a new maximum acceptable concentration for manganese in drinking water of 0.12 mg/L. Historical water test results show that the wells in Horse lake have produced between 0.14 to 0.29 mg/L of manganese. These manganese levels vary per well and what time of year the tests were taken.

Windsor engineer worried about climate change's impact on water quality in the Great Lakes

Windsor engineer worried about climate change's impact on water quality in the Great Lakes

A Windsor-based engineer said climate change is taking a toll on the health of the Great Lakes and this could in turn have an impact on the quality of drinking water for millions of people. Saad Jasim, who is also president of the International Ozone Association, said the impact of climate change on the Great Lakes is quite visible in the form of harmful algal blooms. "But it's not just the way it looks, these algal blooms produce some fatal toxins … there are different species of those toxins [and] unfortunately only one of the species is regulated by Health Canada," Jasim told CBC Windsor.

Lead in school water: Quebec chemists dispute testing method and results

Lead in school water: Quebec chemists dispute testing method and results

In 2019, the Quebec government asked public and private educational institutions to analyze the concentration of lead in drinking water using portable devices called "Kemio Heavy Metals." OCQ president, Michel Alsayegh, deplored the use of this type of device, citing "a significant risk of false negatives, which is worrisome for the health of children and staff." "As early as 2019, when we met with the office of the Minister of Education, we had expressed doubts about the reliability of the results with this type of instrument," said Alsayegh in an interview with The Canadian Press.

As Calgary votes for fluoride, some in B.C. have hope for 'rotten tooth capital of Canada'

As Calgary votes for fluoride, some in B.C. have hope for 'rotten tooth capital of Canada'

After a year that saw both Regina and Calgary voting to add fluoride to their drinking water, some British Columbians are wondering whether it's time for cities in the province to finally consider fluoridation. About two-thirds of Calgarians who voted in Monday's plebiscite supported the fluoride measure — hopeful news for Dr. Mario Brondani, an associate professor of dentistry at the University of British Columbia and a self-described "passionate advocate for fluoride."

Unsafe Lead in Water Is Widespread in Vancouver Island Daycares

Unsafe Lead in Water Is Widespread in Vancouver Island Daycares

Lead in the water of child-care facilities is a problem on Vancouver Island, one far bigger than in some other areas of the province. The government has known about it for years. Its own testing program proves it. But when it comes to dealing with the threat, people affected are running out of patience at the trickle of response from officials. One method health authorities commonly advise — just turning on the taps and running water for a while before letting staff and kids use it — is called no solution at all by experts.

Resident concerned by Roundup use near Guelph Lake

Resident concerned by Roundup use near Guelph Lake

A Guelph resident is concerned about the use of the herbicide Roundup near Guelph Lake after speaking to a worker applying the chemical in the area. Jesse Merrill explained he was driving back from dropping his son off at sailing camp for the day on Tuesday when he spotted a man spraying something on plants growing on the causeway crossing the lake. Through what Merrill termed “a very civil conversation,” he learned the chemical was Roundup and the worker was contracted by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA).

Pemberton Drinking Water System report flags elevated manganese

Pemberton Drinking Water System report flags elevated manganese

Village of Pemberton council received its 2020 Drinking Water System annual report during its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 15. While the summary of water quality results for the most part showed levels of chemicals, mercury, and “elements by atomic spectroscopy” well within required limits, there was a concern about manganese levels. On Feb. 26, 2020 at Well No. 2 manganese levels were recorded at 78.8 ug/L and, on the same day at Well No. 3, they were recorded at 20.1 ug/L. Both were flagged on the report as exceeding “1 criteria policy/ level.”

WATER AT ONTARIO, CANADA, WATERLOO REGION PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISCOVER HIGH LEAD LEVELS

WATER AT ONTARIO, CANADA, WATERLOO REGION PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISCOVER HIGH LEAD LEVELS

Water samples taken at four public schools in Ontario, Canada, from June 2021 show lead levels are higher than the national safety guideline. The schools are Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School, Stewart Avenue Public School, John Darling Public School and Elmira District Secondary School, reported The Waterloo Regional Record. Water samples taken June 9 to 10 at KCI showed levels of lead in two drinking fountains were higher than provincial targets, according to the principal in a letter, reported The Waterloo Regional Record. Tests at John Darling school on June 11 found one tap water fountain to exceed lead targets.

Replace lead water pipes

Replace lead water pipes

On April 29, U.S. President Joe Biden gave his first address to Congress. Early in his speech he identified lead water pipes as a "clear and present danger" to American public health and announced a 100 per cent replacement of lead water pipes found in 10 million U.S. homes and 400,000 schools and child-care centres as a major part of the America’s Job Plan, so that every American has safe drinking water. Here in Canada, all levels of government need to get serious about lead levels in our drinking water.

B.C. creek fills with foam after laundry powder applied to nearby rooftops to control moss

B.C. creek fills with foam after laundry powder applied to nearby rooftops to control moss

The City of Abbotsford is investigating after residents witnessed large pillows of foam floating in a local creek a few days after laundry powder was spread on the rooftops of a nearby townhouse complex. Tom Ulanowski, who has lived at the complex at 4401 Blauson Blvd. on the side of Sumas Mountain for five years, said he's concerned the foam will harm wildlife in and around Clayburn Creek. "I was quite shocked and concerned," he said. "Literally, there were piles of foam eight feet high in some areas."

Leduc launches voluntary residential water sampling campaign

Leduc launches voluntary residential water sampling campaign

The City of Leduc has implemented a Lead Management program to support the continued health and safety of residents. It is also part of a provincial requirement to ensure compliance with the lead level limit outlined in Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, which were updated in 2019. Leduc’s drinking water is safe and clean. This program is purely precautionary, and is required of all municipalities in Alberta. Health Canada has lowered the Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) of lead in drinking water by 50 per cent, from 10 to 5 parts per billion (PPB), and changed the location of where compliance must be met from the system’s point of distribution to the customer’s tap.

Tottenham’s water shows little improvement after installation of aeration system

Tottenham’s water shows little improvement after installation of aeration system

The aeration system that had the potential to significantly reduce the level of trihalomethanes (THMs) in Tottenham’s drinking water is struggling to make much of a difference. The Town of New Tecumseth hired engineering consultant R.V. Anderson Associates Limited to conduct a year-long review of the effectiveness of the $800,000 aeration system activated at the Mill Street reservoir in October 2019. The report concluded that the annual running average level of THMs declined 10 per cent compared to prior sample data from 2019. The report also found the variability of THM levels has been reduced by six to 10 per cent within the distribution system.

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