JASON SETNYK
A new report is raising concerns about lead levels in school drinking water across Ontario, placing the Upper Canada District School Board among the province’s most affected.
The report, titled ‘F’ for Effort: Ontario is falling behind on getting lead out of school drinking water, released by the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA), ranks the Upper Canada District School Board eighth in the province based on the number of tests exceeding Ontario’s current limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb).
According to the data, 15 schools recorded results above 10 ppb, while 41 schools exceeded 5 ppb-the stricter guideline recommended by Health Canada. The findings highlight a widening gap between provincial regulations and current Health Canada standards. Health Canada lowered its recommended limit for lead in drinking water to 5 ppb in 2019 after evidence showed even low levels can harm children’s brain development and learning. However, Ontario continues to use the older 10 ppb threshold to determine when action is required.
“Lead is more dangerous than we previously thought, especially for children,” said Julie Mutis, Community Outreach Worker with CELA. “Other provinces and territories are responding to this science with the seriousness it demands, but Ontario has fallen behind.”
Because Ontario has not adopted the lower standard, many schools with lead levels above 5 ppb remain compliant under provincial rules. The report notes that this means students may still be exposed to levels of lead that would trigger intervention in most other parts of the country.
The analysis also suggests the issue may be more widespread than reported. Due to exemptions in Ontario’s testing regulations, some schools are not required to test regularly if previous results were below 10 ppb.
“Many schools with known lead infrastructure have been exempt from regular testing and are not represented in the data,” said Mutis. “This is because Ontario still uses an outdated limit on lead in water to decide where and when testing is required.”
CELA argues that Ontario’s current approach, rooted in regulations introduced in 2007, no longer reflects modern scientific understanding. While the province was once considered a leader in school water safety, the report concludes it has since fallen behind jurisdictions that have adopted stricter standards and more proactive mitigation strategies.
“Although Ontario has been regulating lead in school drinking water since 2007, children continue to be exposed to it today,” said Mutis. “Ontario has gone from a leader in school drinking water safety to the bottom of the class.”
The report also raises concerns about how lead is managed when elevated levels are found. Current practices often rely on flushing water systems, a temporary measure that can reduce lead levels for short periods, rather than replacing pipes or installing filtration systems that would eliminate the source of contamination.
Lead exposure is particularly harmful to children, with research linking it to reduced IQ, behavioural issues, and developmental delays. Experts emphasize that no amount of lead exposure is considered safe.
The report points to Quebec as an example of a more proactive approach. Following the 2019 federal guideline change, the province required widespread testing of school fixtures and publicly tracks progress in removing or remediating sources of lead. According to the media release, 61 percent of non-compliant taps in Quebec schools have since been addressed.
“Ontario is allowing children in schools to drink water that would be considered unsafe in most of the country, and that is not acceptable,” said Mutis.
CELA is calling on the province to adopt the 5 ppb standard, eliminate sources of lead in school plumbing, and improve transparency so parents and communities have clearer information about water quality.
The findings are expected to add pressure on the province to revisit its regulations, as school infrastructure and student health remain ongoing concerns across Ontario.
While the Upper Canada District School Board ranked among the top 10 boards for elevated lead levels, no individual schools within the board appeared on the report’s list of the top 10 highest-testing schools overall.
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