| Is there lead in the drinking water? | Is there lead in the drinking water? | <div class="ExternalClass3FFB6395C8C74283BD9B18F5D94B38CF"><p>There are no measurable levels of lead in Metro Vancouver's drinking water when it leaves the treatment plants, and no lead is used within Metro Vancouver's water transmission system.</p><p>Lead may be present in older sections of local water distribution systems, as well as in lead solder, brass fixtures, and other plumbing components within homes. These materials can contribute to lead being in drinking water as water passes through them.</p><p>If you have older plumbing fixtures, such as faucets made with leaded brass, consider replacing them with certified lead-free products. When purchasing new fixtures, look for certification to NSF/ANSI/CAN 372, which verifies compliance with lead-free requirements for drinking water system components.</p><p>If you are concerned about lead in your drinking water, flushing the tap by running cold water for several minutes after water has been sitting in the pipes for an extended period can help reduce potential exposure. Using cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing infant formula is also recommended.</p>
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| Is there asbestos in the water from asbestos cement pipes? | Is there asbestos in the water from asbestos cement pipes? | <div class="ExternalClass278C920450B34CBE8CA35982CC01FD2F"><p>Metro Vancouver has very little asbestos cement pipe remaining in its water transmission system, with approximately 3.2 km still in service.</p><p>Replacement of asbestos cement pipe is ongoing and forms part of Metro Vancouver's long-term asset management strategy for maintaining and renewing aging water infrastructure.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/water-quality.html" target="_blank">Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality</a> state that a drinking water guideline for asbestos is not necessary, as there is no evidence that exposure to asbestos through drinking water causes adverse health effects. As a result, asbestos in drinking water is not considered a health concern by Health Canada.</p>
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| Is there PFAS in the drinking water? | Is there PFAS in the drinking water? | <div class="ExternalClass4CA3BA6354B749BAB2FBF257751D7AF1"><p>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been widely used in industrial processes and consumer products. PFAS are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because they are highly persistent and can remain in the environment for long periods of time. Studies have shown that PFAS can travel through soil, water, and air, allowing them to spread far from their original source. As a result, PFAS have been detected worldwide in people, wildlife, fish, and various environmental media, including remote locations.</p><p>Although PFAS have been identified in water, air, and soil in many parts of the world, the current risk of PFAS contamination in Metro Vancouver’s drinking water supply is considered low.</p><p>Regular monitoring and testing have confirmed that PFAS concentrations in both source water and treated drinking water remain well below Health Canada's drinking water objective of 30 ng/L, which applies to the combined concentration of 25 specified PFAS compounds.</p><p>More information on Metro Vancouver's water quality monitoring program, including PFAS testing results, is available in the <a href="/services/water/reports-resources" target="_blank">Water Quality Annual Report</a>.</p>
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| How would a fire in the watershed affect the water quality? | How would a fire in the watershed affect the water quality? | <div class="ExternalClassDB55ACF3B49C40B7A49F39AAA9D30603"><p>A fire in the watershed can affect water quality, particularly in the period following the event. The loss of vegetation increases erosion, allowing ash, soil, and debris to wash into streams and reservoirs, which can raise turbidity. Ash can also add nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, potentially promoting algal growth. In addition, contaminants released during burning may enter watercourses through rainfall runoff, affecting aquatic ecosystems and water treatment processes. Wildfires can also alter water chemistry, including pH and oxygen levels, which may further impact source water quality.</p><p>Metro Vancouver’s watershed protection program includes highly trained staff with the expertise in wildfire management and response to protect the regions drinking water supply areas from wildfire. Staff are ready to respond 24/7 throughout the wildfire season. If a wildfire occurs, enhanced water quality testing would be implemented to ensure drinking water remains of high quality. </p></div> |
| Could fire retardants used to fight wildfires in watersheds affect drinking water quality? | Could fire retardants used to fight wildfires in watersheds affect drinking water quality? | <div class="ExternalClass9B53F34D2E104A859A5FB5D8435F764A"><p>Fire retardant, although of very low risk to human health and the environment, would only be used in water supply areas if a fire threatened public and/or responder safety, critical infrastructure, or was deemed to have spread potential that would have impacts on water quality outweighing any potential water quality risks of the fire retardant product itself.</p><p>Phos-Chek is the main fire retardant used in BC and consists primarily of diammonium sulphate, ammonium sulphate, or ammonium polyphosphate, which are also used in many agricultural fertilizers and are considered safe for use as they do not contain intentionally added PFAS chemicals. </p></div> |
| What are microplastics? | What are microplastics? | <div class="ExternalClass199F5A8FDA9E4D06B9DA56680B53FB9A"><p>Microplastics (typically less than 5 mm in size) form from the breakdown of larger plastic material. The use of plastics is worldwide and has been detected across all environments. There is growing interest in the drinking water industry in North America and globally regarding the presence of microplastics in drinking water and their potential impact on human health and municipal water treatment.</p><p>Metro Vancouver closely follows provincial and federal drinking water standards for emerging contaminants and potential exposure to the region’s water supply. Exposure to microplastics can come from a wide range of sources, however, the region’s drinking water is not likely a key source of microplastics given our protected water supply areas.</p><p>Metro Vancouver is not currently measuring for microplastics, largely because there are no regulatory standards or guideline values for microplastics in drinking water in Canada or most other jurisdictions around the world.</p><p>Metro Vancouver remains informed on emerging research related to microplastics and routinely engages with industry organizations, researchers, regulators, and water sector partners to stay current on scientific developments and best practices.
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| Are there disinfection by-products (DBP) in the drinking water? | Are there disinfection by-products (DBP) in the drinking water? | <div class="ExternalClass8AF09D22D7C0499B9F3E66E7920E40B4"><p>Metro Vancouver works closely with the member jurisdictions and health authorities to follow the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/water-quality.html" target="_blank">Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality</a> with regards to the types and frequency of testing for DBPs in the transmission and distribution systems. Results for each sampling site are calculated using a running locational average using quarterly sampling.</p><p>Detailed information about Metro Vancouver’s water quality testing, including DBPs, can be found in Metro Vancouver’s <a href="/services/water/reports-resources" target="_blank">Water Quality Annual Report</a>.
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