Item - 2014.HL33.4
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on August 25, 2014 without amendments.
- This item was considered by Board of Health on August 18, 2014 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on August 25, 2014.
- See also Item PW33.15
- See also Item PW33.16
HL33.4 - Health Impacts of the City of Toronto's Lead in Drinking Water Mitigation Strategy
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on August 25, 26, 27 and 28, 2014, adopted the following:
1. City Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, to develop the following options to improve the Lead in Drinking Water Mitigation Strategy, and report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in early 2015:
a. expand the distribution of free filters to vulnerable populations living in pre-1950s homes;
b. develop and promote a publicly accessible database and/or map of the status of lead service lines; and
c. increase the number of complete replacement as part of the "planned" replacements program.
2. City Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Water, in collaboration with the Medical Officer of Health, to evaluate current public education and outreach efforts and implement enhancements as necessary to reduce exposures to lead in drinking water, particularly for those populations that are most at risk and report to the Board with any additional resource requirements prior to approval of the 2015 budget.
City Council Decision Advice and Other Information
City Council considered Items HL33.4 headed "Health Impacts of the City of Toronto's Lead in Drinking Water Mitigation Strategy", PW33.15 headed "Lead in Drinking Water Mitigation Strategy - Update" and PW33.16 headed "Feasibility of Introducing a Residential Private-Side Lead Water Service Connection Replacement Funding Program" together.
Background Information (Board)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-72536.pdf
Motions (City Council)
Vote (Adopt Item) Aug-26-2014 2:35 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - HL33.4 - Adopt the item |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 39 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Peter Leon, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, John Parker, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Ceta Ramkhalawansingh, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 6 | Members that were absent are Michelle Berardinetti, Mike Del Grande, James Maloney, Giorgio Mammoliti, Joe Mihevc, Jaye Robinson |
HL33.4 - Health Impacts of the City of Toronto's Lead in Drinking Water Mitigation Strategy
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Board Recommendations
The Board of Health recommends that:
1. City Council direct the General Manager of Toronto Water, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, to develop the following options to improve the Lead in Drinking Water Mitigation Strategy, and report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in early 2015:
a. Expand the distribution of free filters to vulnerable populations living in pre-1950s homes; and
b. Develop and promote a publicly accessible database and/or map of the status of lead service lines; and
c. Increase the number of complete replacement as part of the "planned" replacements program.
2. City Council direct the General Manager of Toronto Water, in collaboration with the Medical Officer of Health, to evaluate current public education and outreach efforts and implement enhancements as necessary to reduce exposures to lead in drinking water, particularly for those populations that are most at risk and report to the Board with any additional resource requirements prior to approval of the 2015 budget.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Board of Health:
1. Endorsed the following Recommendation (1) from the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on August 13, 2014 (Item PW33.16)
"1. City Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Water, and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to develop a self-funded loan program as described in the report (July 29, 2014) from the General Manager, Toronto Water and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, for City of Toronto homeowners wishing to replace lead water service connections situated on their properties."
2. Endorsed the following Recommendation (1) from the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on August 13, 2014 (Item PW33.15)
"1. City Council request the General Manager, Toronto Water to:
a. develop a targeted pilot project to identify, educate, encourage, and coordinate the replacement of private and public lead service pipes on streets with a significant number of homes with lead service, and report through the 2015 budget process with the potential costs of the project;
b. remove the "cap" on the number of "Priority" lead service replacements;
c. include in all future contracts for water service replacement contracts a requirement for maintaining records of private side replacements;
d. develop a system of data collection on completion rates and outstanding lead services in the City of Toronto; and
e. examine and implement changes in the "planned" and "priority" replacements process to coordinate the work to replace public and private replacements at the same time."
3. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to work with Toronto Water to develop a targeted pilot project to identify, educate, encourage and coordinate the complete replacement (public and private) on streets with a significant number of homes with lead service.
4. Requested the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change to direct the Ontario Drinking Water Advisory Council to review and provide a recommendation on updating the Drinking Water Quality Standard for lead to ensure it is adequately protective of health; and
5. Forwarded the report (July 31, 2014) from the Medical Officer of Health to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Ontario, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Toronto District School Board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud, Toronto Real Estate Board and Health Canada.
Origin
Summary
Lead exposure is associated with neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, renal, and reproductive effects. Lead adversely affects those that are most vulnerable in our society: infants, children and pregnant women. While exposures to lead continue to decrease in the general population, studies show that remaining exposures to lead should be minimized or eliminated whenever possible. Reducing lead in drinking water is considered to be one of the most feasible and least expensive options available to reduce exposures to lead.
This report provides a summary of recent research on the health impacts of lead in drinking water. An overview of lead levels and protocols with respect to school drinking water is also provided. Lead components exist in both the public and private side of the drinking water system and there are important actions that both the City and the public should take to reduce exposures. This report provides an update on the City's efforts to engage and encourage the public to take actions to mitigate exposure to lead in drinking water.
Research shows that homeowners are more likely to take action to reduce their exposures to lead in drinking water when their drinking water is found to be in excess of the drinking water quality standard. Ontario's drinking water quality standard should be reviewed to ensure it reflects current understanding of the health impacts of lead exposure and that it is protective of the most vulnerable in our society.
This report provides an assessment of the health impacts of the City of Toronto's Lead in Drinking Water Mitigation Strategy and provides options and recommendations for additional actions the City can take to further reduce risks from exposure to lead in drinking water.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-72536.pdf
Speakers
Motions
1. Amend Recommendation 1 by deleting "explore" and replacing it with "develop" and adding a new part c. "Increase the number of complete replacements (public and private) as part of the "planned" replacements program." so that Recommendation 1 reads:
"1. City Council direct the General Manager of Toronto Water, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, to develop the following options to improve the Lead in Drinking Water Mitigation Strategy, and report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in early 2015:
a. Expand the distribution of free filters to vulnerable populations living in pre-1950s homes;
b. Develop and promote a publicly accessible database and/or map of the status of lead service lines; and
c. Increase the number of complete replacements (public and private) as part of the "planned" replacements program."
2. Amend Recommendation 2 by inserting "and report to the Board with any additional resource requirements prior to approval of the 2015 budget." at the end of the recommendation so that the Recommendation 2 reads:
"2. City Council direct the General Manager of Toronto Water, in collaboration with the Medical Officer of Health, to evaluate current public education and outreach efforts and implement enhancements as necessary to reduce exposures to lead in drinking water, particularly for those populations that are most at risk and report to the Board with any additional resource requirements prior to approval of the 2015 budget;"
3. That the following new recommendations be added:
That the Board of Health:
1. Endorse the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommendations for Item PW33.15
2. Request the Medical Officer of Health to work with Toronto Water to develop a targeted pilot project to identify, educate, encourage and coordinate the complete replacement (public and private) on streets with a significant number of homes with lead service.