Safe Drinking Water Toolkit

ts

rs & Paren to a c u d E r fo e rc u so e R An Information

Issued January 2018

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.”

– JOHN 7:37

“The human right to safe drinking water and sanitation is derived from the right to an adequate standard of living and inextricably related to the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as well as the right to life and human dignity.”

– Human Rights Council

Table of Contents 1. Welcome 2.

Message from the Director of Education

3.

Goals & Safe Water Commitment

4.

Interesting Water Facts

5.

Government Regulations on Safe Drinking Water

6.

Government Information on new Amendments to Ontario Regulation 243/07

7.

Information for Educators

8.

Information for Parents

9.

Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water

10.

Water Quality Assurance Procedures

11.

Frequently Asked Questions

12.

Other Useful Reading

Welcome to the Safe Drinking Water Toolkit

This Toolkit was developed by Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board to inform educators and parents about water quality standards and practises in our schools. It provides educators with current guidelines for water quality standards as well as information about water quality procedures.

It is also intended to provide parents with the information they need to feel confident about their child’s health and well-being in our schools. Above all, this Toolkit supports awareness and engagement throughout our school community related to water issues.

If you have further questions or comments about water quality, please contact: Plant Department Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board Tel: (807) 625-1595

Message from the Director of Education On behalf of Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, thank you for your interest in the water quality standards of our schools.

Water is a natural gift from God that sustains all life forms. It is essential to growth, health and prosperity. Ensuring safe and healthy water sources for students, staff and visitors is a responsibility that we take very seriously.

As a typical practice, we follow provincial standards when it comes to water quality. This means ensuring the appropriate systems, policies and procedures are in place to safeguard our children’s health while they learn, and to ensure compliance with Ontario regulatory requirements.

Annual water testing is conducted by independent inspectors from Stantec at all schools in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. O. Reg 243/07. If and when quality issues are identified, an immediate investigation is conducted, and corrective measures are undertaken to ensure water quality levels are returned to provincial standard.

Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board continues to ensure that all schools have arrangements in place to plan, monitor, review and improve measures to address Health & Safety performance. This includes continued water quality testing by independent inspectors who report each year.

As a parent and educator, I can say with confidence that Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board offers the highest standards of drinking water in our schools.

We assure students, parents and staff that we can turn on our taps with the certainty of a safe and clean supply.

Sincerely,

Pino Tassone, Director of Education

Goals: • We will educate the leaders of today and tomorrow about drinking water quality issues to realize our goal of overall health & well-being.

• We will guide educators and staff to maintain safe drinking water standards and practises in all of our schools.

• We will teach children how to recognize safe drinking water sources.

• We will work together with Government, partners, educators and parents to uphold the highest drinking water safety standards in all Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board facilities.

Our Safe Water Commitment: • We believe safe water is a fundamental human need and right.

• Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board ensures a safe supply of water for each person in every school.

• There is a continuous supply of clean water for drinking, personal hygiene, washing, food preparation and other school uses.

• Water is free from any elements that present a threat to a person’s health.

• No student or individual is denied access to safe water for any purpose.

• We continually educate students about water as a core component of our education curriculum.

r e t a W t u o b a s t c a F Interesting Did you know?

1. About 70 percent of the earth is water, but only 2.5 percent of that is freshwater.

5. The average person could only survive about one week without water.

6. It is recommended that children between 9-13 years old drink between 10-10.5 cups of water per day.

8. Canadians use an estimated 335 litres of water every day in the home for drinking, cooking, cleaning, washing and gardening.

9. Each day, a person loses more than a cup of water from their bodies when we exhale.

10. Leaving the tap running while you brush your teeth uses about 10 litres of water.

2. The Great Lakes contain 18 percent of the world’s freshwater.

7. Drinking enough water replenishes a child’s energy levels and reduces fatigue.

3. Water makes up approximately 66 percent of our bodies’ weight.

4. Our brains are made up of 85 percent water so staying hydrated help our brains.

Please share these fun facts with your students or children when talking about water safety.

Government Regulations Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board works collaboratively with the Government of Ontario to uphold current provincial regulations for safe drinking water and schools. We adhere to the following regulations:

1. 1.Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 32 The purposes of this Act are:

2. Ontario Regulation 243/07 (Schools, Private Schools and Child Care Centres) under Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 32

1. To recognize that the people of Ontario are entitled to expect their drinking water to be safe.

This regulation is part of the Safe Drinking Water Act and has been recently updated.

2. To provide for the protection of human health and the prevention of drinking water health hazards through the control and regulation of drinking water systems and drinking water testing. 2002, c. 32, s. 1.

It is intended to reduce children’s exposure to lead in drinking water. The regulation requires the flushing of plumbing in schools, private schools and child care centres. Flushing has been shown to reduce lead levels in water at drinking water fixtures.

The full regulation is available online to print or download: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/ statute/02s32?search=Reg%20243%2F07

The regulation also requires sampling and testing to measure the concentration of lead in drinking water against the provincial drinking water quality standard for lead.

The full regulation is available online to print or download: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/ regulation/070243?search=Reg%20243%2F07

Government Information on new Amendments to Ontario Regulation 243/07 PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM LEAD IN DRINKING WATER Ontario is continuing to protect children’s health with new regulation changes aimed at improving drinking water testing in child care centres and schools to minimize children’s exposure to lead.

New amendments to Ontario Regulation 243/07 that take effect July 1, 2017 will now require lead testing within these facilities for all fixtures used to provide drinking water and/or prepare food or drink for children under 18.

Studies1 show that lead levels in drinking water from plumbing can vary substantially between individual taps or fountains. Only by testing each drinking water fixture can child care centres and schools be sure that they are not exposing children to lead through any of the plumbing within their facilities.

Since 2007, the Ontario government has been requiring child care centres and schools to flush the plumbing in their facilities and to test their drinking water for lead. Flushing has been shown to reduce lead levels in water at a tap or fountain.

Ontario Regulation 243/07 also requires testing to measure the presence of lead in drinking water against the provincial drinking water quality standard of 10 micrograms per litre, based on a national guideline set by Health Canada.

For more information about flushing and sampling for lead in child care centres and schools, visit www.ontario.ca/drinkingwater or call the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change’s Public Information Centre at 1-800-565-4923.

World Health Organization: Lead Poisoning and Blood. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs379/en/ 1

: XXrs February 2010 to a c u d E r fo n o ti a rm Info What do children need to know?

What are the changes to flushing and sampling for lead that are affecting my child care centre or school?

The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) has updated Ontario Regulation 243/07.

Since 2007, the Ontario government has been requiring child care centres and schools to flush the plumbing in their facilities and test their drinking water for lead.

New amendments to Ontario Regulation 243/07 that take effect July 1, 2017 will now require lead testing within these facilities for all fixtures used to provide drinking water and/ or prepare food or drink for children under 18.

If there are drinking water fixtures that have not been sampled under O. Reg. 243/07, they need to be sampled by the following timelines.

Timelines Child Care Centres

By January 1, 2020 Schools with a Primary Division By January 1, 2020 Other Schools

By January 1, 2022

What is a “drinking water fixture”?

A “drinking water fixture” refers to every drinking water fountain and every tap that is used to provide drinking water or to prepare food and/or drink for children under 18.

Children need to know that all child care centres and schools in Ontario will be testing drinking water fixtures for lead to protect children’s health. Your child care centre or school may choose to post signs to indicate whether a drinking water fixture has been tested for lead. For example, if children notice a sign that says “handwashing only” then they should not use that fixture for drinking water or to prepare food or drink.

Some taps and fountains may also be temporarily bagged or marked as “do not use” as part of this testing.

What about taps that do not provide drinking water, e.g., taps in bathrooms, custodian rooms, or that are outside for gardening? Will they be sampled too?

These types of taps do not need to be sampled if children do not use them to obtain drinking water. It is up to your child care centre or school to identify which taps are used for drinking water or to prepare food and/or drink for children under 18 and to have them tested for lead.

For more information: Why do all drinking water fixtures need to be sampled?

Health Canada – Lead and Human Health:

Studies1 show that lead levels in drinking water from plumbing can vary substantially between individual taps or fountains.

Only by testing each drinking water fixture can child care centres and schools be sure that they are not exposing children to lead through any of the plumbing within their facilities.

www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/ contaminants/lead-plomb/asked_ questions-questions_posees_e.html.

When are samples collected?

Sampling is done between May 1st and October 31st. Some exceptions to this may include when a new facility begins operation or when resampling is required by a local health unit.

Who will conduct the sampling?

A designated person at your child care centre or school, (e.g., custodial staff), will conduct the sampling per the requirements of the regulation. For more information on how to sample, go to www.ontario.ca/drinkingwater.

Why does the Ontario government require child care centres and schools to test drinking water for lead?

Young children are more vulnerable to the effects of lead because they absorb ingested lead more easily than adults, which can interfere with the development of their nervous systems. In population studies, exposure to lead has been associated with effects on learning capacity, intellectual development and behavior.

World Health Organization: Lead Poisoning and Blood. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs379/en/ 1

Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change – Drinking Water Information: www.ontario.ca/drinkingwater

Ontario Ministry of the Environment a nd Cl i mate Cha ng e Pub l i c Information Centre: 1-800-565-4923.

XX :February 2010 ts n re a P r fo n o ti a rm fo In Safe Drinking Water in Child Care Centres and Schools Since 2007, the Ontario government has been requiring child care centres and schools to flush the plumbing in their facilities and test their drinking water for lead. New amendments to Ontario Regulation 243/07 that take effect July 1, 2017 will now require lead testing within these facilities for all fixtures used to provide drinking water and/or prepare food or drink for children under 18.

Why does the Ontario government require child care centres and schools to test drinking water for lead?

Young children are more vulnerable to the effects of lead because they absorb ingested lead more easily than adults, which can interfere with the development of their nervous systems. In population studies, exposure to lead has been associated with effects on learning capacity, intellectual development and behavior.

How will the new rules coming into effect in July 2017 better protect children in child care centres and schools?

Ontario is proactively strengthening its regulation to protect children’s health. Studies show that lead levels in drinking water from plumbing can vary substantially between individual taps or fountains. Only by testing each drinking water fixture can child care centres and schools be sure that they are not exposing children to lead through any of the plumbing within their facilities.

What is the drinking water quality standard for lead?

The Ontario drinking water quality standard for lead is 10 micrograms per litre. This standard is based on a national guideline set by Health Canada.

What happens if a child care centre or school finds it has lead in its drinking water above the standard for lead?

If a child care centre or school gets a drinking water test result that is above the standard for lead, the local Medical Officer of Health will assign corrective actions to the facility and it is the facility’s responsibility to ensure those actions are carried out.

The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change will follow up with the facility operator and local Medical Officer of Health if necessary. These local processes have been in place since 2007 and are working well.

How can I find out the lead test results for my child’s child care centre or school?

If you have questions about measures taken by your local child care centre or school to ensure the safety of drinking water, contact your local child care centre, school, or school board.

Why are child care centres and schools required to flush their plumbing?

Flushing has been shown to reduce lead levels in drinking water fixtures. By flushing plumbing and fixtures, water that may have come in contact with lead plumbing is replaced with fresh water. How often a facility has to flush their plumbing and fixtures depends on several factors including the age of the plumbing, previous lead test results or if a device that removes lead, such as a filter, has been installed on a fixture.

How are people exposed to lead?

Lead is a naturally occurring element. Lead has many industrial uses and has been found in water systems since the late 1800s. It is also present in soil, food and indoor dust.

Over the past few decades, exposure to lead has significantly decreased due to restrictions in the use of lead in gasoline, paint and solder.

How can I get the water in my home tested for lead?

If you suspect that you have lead service pipes or lead plumbing in your home, you may wish to have your tap water tested for lead. Some municipalities in Ontario have programs that help residents test their drinking water for lead.

Contact your municipality for more information about your water service pipes and what is available in your community.

Alternatively, you can arrange your own drinking water lead test through a licensed laboratory. Visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/laboratories-licensed-test-lead to view a list of laboratories licensed by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to test for lead or call the ministry’s Public Information Centre at 1-800-565-4923.

How does lead get into drinking water?

Ontario’s surface and groundwater generally does not contain lead. If lead does occur naturally, the concentrations are typically extremely low and below the drinking water standard for lead.

Where there are concentrations of lead in drinking water above the standard, the likely cause is from the lead pipes servicing the premises, lead solder used in the plumbing or fixtures containing high percentages of lead.

Lead pipe service connections have been used to deliver water from distribution pipes since the late 1800s.

Older buildings (generally those built before the mid-1950s) are more likely to have lead connections. By 1990, the amount of lead in solder that could be used in drinking water plumbing was substantially reduced.

The amount of lead leaching into drinking water from these components depends largely on the chemical characteristics of the water. In certain circumstances, extended contact between standing water and the components can cause the lead to be released from the pipes. When the tap is turned on, water that has been standing in the pipes may have accumulated lead levels higher than Ontario’s standard for lead.

For more information:

Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water

Health Canada – Lead and Human Health:

• Lead (Pb) is a naturally occurring element.

www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/ contaminants/lead-plomb/ asked_questions-questions_ posees_e.html.

O nta r i o M i n i s t r y of th e Environment and Climate Change – Drinking Water Information: www.ontario.ca/drinkingwater

O nta r i o M i n i s t r y of th e Environment and Climate Change Public Information Centre: 1-800-565-4923.

• The main source of lead in drinking water is through contact with plumbing materials that contain lead.

• The amount of lead dissolved into drinking water depends on factors such as pH, alkalinity, water temperature, water hardness, length of piping, and the amount of time water is left in pipes.

• Lead is harmful to health when ingested and especially in young children.

• Ingestion means physical consumption through drinking, cooking and teeth brushing.

• Water sources with higher lead levels may be used for bathing, handwashing, and dishwashing without the same health risks.

• In water, dissolved lead has no taste, smell, or colour.

• Lead can only be detected in water sources through a chemical test.

• Lead cannot be removed from water through boiling.

Boiling water may increase the concentration of lead.

• The longer water sits in pipes, the more lead it may contain.

• Flushing pipes before drinking is a good way to reduce lead levels in water.

dures 2010 XX February e c ro P e c n ra u s s A ty li a u Water Q Testing

Communication

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A comprehensive inventory of drinking taps and faucets is maintained for all schools.

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•

Testing for lead in water sources takes place annually in ALL Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board schools.

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To ensure the highest standards of testing, Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board has retained the services of expert inspectors from Stantec.

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Water samples are tested in professional and accredited laboratories annually according to provincial water testing standards and in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. O. Reg 243/07.

•

If and when quality issues are identified, an immediate investigation is conducted, and corrective measures are undertaken to ensure water quality levels are returned to provincial standard.

Standardized and consistent signage is posted in both English and French at all school water sources to indicate whether the water may be used for drinking or handwashing only. Signage samples are provided as follows:

Maintenance •

All students are educated about the signage and how it should be followed for safe water consumption.

•

If and when water quality issues are identified, Principals and teachers of the school are immediately notified.

•

•

Key regulatory information is provided to all stakeholders as required and updated on an annual basis.

Stantec, Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board and School Principals are engaged collaboratively on root cause analysis, problem-solving, corrective actions and ongoing monitoring.

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All drinking water taps and fountains that are required to be sampled and flushed are inventoried every year.

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Parents are notified when lead levels in exceedance of Ontario regulations are detected and reported in their child’s classroom.

•

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Annual water test results are made available for public information by Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board.

Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board validates annually that every drinking water tap and fountain has been sampled according to requirements.

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All relevant documentation related to sample results and exceedances is recorded and maintained.

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Corrective actions taken at drinking water fixtures are tracked and recorded.

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A record of regular sampling and flushing activities is kept up to date.

•

Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board follows all mandatory notification procedures to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Education and Public Health Unit.

Corrective Actions •

When water quality exceedances are identified, Thunder Bay Catholic District School implements the required corrective actions immediately to ensure a safe supply of water.

•

Based on the severity of the water quality results, standard corrective actions may include mandatory daily flushing, closing the water source for usage until the issue is resolved, and replacing or upgrading the water fixture.

Frequently Asked Questions 1. Which taps must be sampled in schools?

6. Do child care centres located in a school have the same requirements?

A: All ‘drinking water fixtures’. A “drinking water fixture” refers to every drinking water fountain and every tap that is used to provide drinking water or to prepare food and/or drink for children under 18 years of age.

Yes. The regulation applies to operators of all child care centres. You are required to meet all the requirements of the amended regulation. The operator of the school within which you are located MAY offer to conduct your sampling and/or flushing but are not required to. Have this discussion with them.

2. Are previous samples counted?

If a facility has the appropriate sampling records that show a specific location has been sampled under O. Reg. 243/07 already then, that fixture can be counted as done.

3. Can all taps be tested for lead this year?

Yes. There is no provision in the regulation that prevents facilities from sampling all applicable fixtures this year. For child care centres and any school that has kids in the ‘primary division’ (gr 3 or younger) they have to sample at least 1/3 of their drinking water fixtures, that’s a minimum, not a target.

4. What does the 1/3 sampling size refer to?

The requirement is 1/3 of the drinking water fixtures that do not have existing sampling records in each facility.

The requirement is not for a school board to sample all of the taps in 1/3 of their schools.

Each facility is measured separately, including the co-located child care centres within schools. This mean 1/3 of all drinking water fixtures at all locations.

5. Is it mandatory for schools to post signage?

2 types of signs have been developed, printed and laminated by MOECC. They are available for facilities to order through Publications Ontario. Neither are mandatory, there are no expectations on type or frequency of usage, the facilities are free to use them as a resource as they deem necessary.

7. What does the minimum level of corrective action mean?

It means making the fixture that produced the flushed exceedance inaccessible to children until the lead issue at the fixture has been resolved. This is required in all situations, unless the facility is instructed by the Public Health Unit that they can continue to use the fixture for handwashing/sanitation purposes if necessary.

8. Where can I find the water test results for a specific school?

The annual results of water testing in Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board facilities are posted on our website at: https://www. tbcschools.ca/parents/drinkingwater.

9. What if I still have questions as an educator about water quality issues in my school?

If you are an educator with questions or concerns related to water quality in your school please contact the Plant department at Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board.

10. What if I still have questions as a parent about water quality issues in my child’s school?

Parents of children attending any school within the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board are invited to contact the Principal with their questions or concerns.

Other Useful Resources • Health Canada – Lead and Human Health: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/contaminants/lead-plomb/asked_questions-questions_ posees_e.html.

• Drinking Water: www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/waterquality/drinking-water.html

• Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change – Drinking Water Information: www.ontario.ca/drinkingwater

• Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Public Information Centre: 1-800-565-4923.

• World Health Organization: www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs379/en/

• Centres for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/

“Lead exposure can affect nearly every system in the body.”