Drinking Water | Lakelands Public Health

Man drinking from large water bottle outdoors in the summer.

Drinking water is essential for our daily activities, including drinking it, washing fruits and vegetables, washing dishes, and bathing. Safe drinking water is an important part of human health. There are many different chemicals and microorganisms that can live in drinking water.

Fluoride

Fluoride is a natural element that has been added to public drinking water supplies around the world for decades, based on strong evidence that it supports dental health.

How is Fluoride Beneficial to Dental Health?

Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel (making the teeth more resistant to decay) and reduces the amount of acid produced by the bacteria on your teeth (making teeth easier to clean).

The fluoridation of municipal drinking water is a simple public health measure that protects the dental health of all community members, regardless of age, socioeconomic status, education, employment, or access to dental care. It is particularly beneficial for those who are under-resourced and hardest to reach with other prevention measures.

What are Optimal Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water?

Optimal concentration is 0.7 milligrams per litre (mg/L), or 0.7 parts per million (ppm). The maximum acceptable concentration is 1.5ppm or mg/L.

Is Fluoride Added to Municipal Water?

Fluoride has been added to public drinking water supplies around the world for more than half a century and is well-supported by scientific evidence.

The City of Peterborough began fluoridation of municipal drinking water in 1973. Water quality is tested routinely, and the reports are publicly available online. No other municipality in the Lakelands region currently adds fluoride to their municipal drinking water supply.

How Can I Ensure My Water Has Optimal Fluoride Levels?

If you do not have access to fluoride in your drinking water, you may discuss alternative sources of fluoride with your dentist, primary care provider, or public health. Privately-owned wells may have naturally-occurring fluoride in the water. You can test your well's fluoride concentration at an accredited laboratory.

Is Too Much Fluoride Harmful?

Drinking water with levels of fluoride that are too high can lead to dental fluorosis — a condition which causes white spots on the teeth. While it may be unattractive, fluorosis is not generally a health risk. In severe cases, the teeth may become pitted and require dental treatment.

Resources

Fluoride Fact Sheet (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care)
Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (Health Canada)
Resolution: Community Water Fluoridation (Ontario Public Health Association)
Fact Sheet: Community Water Fluoridation (Government of Canada)

Lead

Lead is a toxic material that is harmful to human health if inhaled or ingested. However, lead can occur naturally in groundwater, which may lead to it being consumed. The maximum acceptable concentration of lead in drinking water is 10 micrograms per litre.

Health Effects

Exposure to lead can affect multiple systems in the body. It accumulates in the body over time; human exposure is measured by the levels of lead in blood. High levels of lead are associated with adverse neurobehavioural and cognitive changes. At very high levels, the body's ability to produce red blood cells is decreased. Young children (under 6 years), infants, and fetuses appear to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of lead.

Lead in Well Water

Lead can occur naturally in ground water. If your house has a private well, you can have your water tested for lead at an accredited laboratory. Learn more about Well Water Testing.

How Can I Reduce Lead in My Water?

The maximum acceptable concentration of lead in drinking water is 10 micrograms per litre. If your result is greater than that, you will need to determine if the lead is coming from the groundwater or the plumbing.

Your options to lower lead concentration may include:

replacing plumbing
installing a treatment system
using an alternate source of water

Boiling water does not reduce the amount of lead in it.

Lead in Municipal Water

Municipal water systems must test the water leading the treatment plant and in their distribution systems for lead on a regular basis. Any result greater than 10 micrograms per litre must be reported to Lakelands Public Health. The testing reports are available from the municipality or utility service where you live.

Municipalities and the operators of their water systems are responsible for the quality of the water they provide to their customers up to the property line (usually the shut-off valve in your front lawn). Water mains are generally made of cast iron or plastic.

Lead from Plumbing

Lead piping was occasionally used in homes built before the mid-1950s. Homeowners can check to see if they have lead pipes by examining their plumbing lines. Lead pipe will have a very dark colour. To examine your pipes, clean off a section of pipe with a cloth, then rub a white piece of paper on the pipe. If it looks like a pencil has been rubbed on the pipe, it is most likely lead. Lead solder (connects copper pipe and fittings) was discontinued in 1993, but older supplies may have been used past then.

The longer water sits in contact with lead in pipes, fittings, or solder, the more lead leeches into the water. Whenever water has been standing for 6 hours or longer, it is recommended to flush the water for a few minutes.

Lead in Schools and Child Care Centres

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has very strict rules governing lead testing and flushing procedures in schools and daycares.

Resources

Water Talk: Lead in Drinking Water (Government of Canada)
Lead (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
Lead Information Package (Health Canada)

Sodium

Sodium is a mineral found in most foods and all natural waters. Drinking water usually has sodium from natural occurrences, road salt, water treatment chemicals, or ion-exchange water softening units. Although the average intake of sodium from drinking water is minimal, it can be significant for individuals who require a sodium-restricted diet.

How Much Sodium Should Water Have?

The human body needs some sodium to function, but too much can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney disease. The Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines and the Ontario Drinking Water Standards set an aesthetic objective for sodium at 200mg/L. Concentrations above this may change the taste of the water.

Sodium in Municipal Water

Provincial regulations require that sodium concentrations in municipal drinking water are tested every five years. If the concentration exceeds 20mg/L, it must be reported to the Medical Officer of Health.

Health Effects

On average, less than 5-10% of our daily intake of sodium come from water. For most people, sodium in water is not a concern.

People who have severe hypertension or congestive heart failure may require a sodium-restricted diet. If you are on a sodium-restricted diet, you should consult your health care provide —especially if the sodium level in your drinking water is above 20mg/L.

Water softeners may increase the levels of sodium in drinking water. It is recommended that water from a water softener is not given to infants or used in the preparation of infant beverages (e.g., formula or juice).

Do Water Softeners Increase Sodium?

Most water softeners use ionic exchange to replace calcium with sodium, which can increase the levels of sodium in your drinking water. It is recommended that water from a water softener is not given to infants or used in the preparation of infant beverages (e.g., formula or juice).

If you need a water softener, you can consider a separate un-softened supply for cooking and drinking purposes. Filtration units and treatment processes can also be added to remove sodium from drinking water.

Resources