Residential Lead Monitoring Program
The Office of Drinking Water began phasing in lead testing requirements in 2019, beginning with Manitoba’s largest and oldest water systems with known or suspected lead service lines. Water systems selected to implement the Residential Lead Monitoring Program will receive notification from the Office of Drinking Water, directing owners/operators to begin testing as per the instructions outlined in the Operational Guideline on Residential Lead Monitoring Program.
Water systems that did not receive notification yet, but wish to begin testing, should contact their regional drinking water officer before initiating testing.
The Office of Drinking Water has prepared materials to assist owners/operators in developing and implementing their Residential Lead Monitoring Program, including templates designed for communicating and notifying residents of the program.
Program Development
If your community has been selected to sample for lead in the water distribution system, please follow the step-by-step process noted in the:
- Residential Lead Monitoring Program - Progress Checklist for Operators
Communication Plan
Communicate the upcoming Lead Sampling Program to your community. Templates can be found below.
- Inform the municipal governing body or owner of your water system of the upcoming, required lead sampling program as soon as possible.
- A presentation has been prepared to help explain the Manitoba Residential Lead Monitoring Program to various stakeholders.
- Reach out to your community for volunteers for the Lead Sampling Program, i.e. sampling locations.
- Residential Volunteer Template - use this Letter to communicate the Lead Sampling Program to your community and to find / request volunteers for sampling in your community.
- Home-based Daycare Letter Template - use this Letter to communicate the Lead Sampling Program to private, home-based childcare providers in your community and to find / request volunteers from home-based daycares in your community.
- Lead in Drinking Water Fact Sheet: Information for Manitoba Homeowners and Home-Based Child Care Providers - use this Fact Sheet as a public communication tool to inform water users about the risks of lead in drinking water.
Notification of Results
Several notification templates have been developed and are available below:
- Lead Results within the Guideline
- Elevated Lead Results (Random Daytime Test only)
- Elevated Lead Results (Randon Daytime +30 minute stagnation)
- Lead Results (30 minute stagnation)
The following templates can also be used as “door hangers” in your community to provide additional information on your Lead Sampling Program and/or if there is a lead service line replacement program for your water system:
*IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WATER SYSTEM TO COMMUNICATE LEAD TESTING RESULTS TO HOMEOWNERS WITHIN 30 DAYS, WITHOUT PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION (names / sample locations) TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
