Lead contamination in Edmonton AB water supply.

[Niki_up]

Ok, so I haven’t compiled all of my information or fully processed it yet.

link to article

Redirect Notice

it is comparing this lead contamination to the flint Michigan water crisis of 2015. (Not including the bacterial contamination)

EPCOR In Edmonton has stated they will be adding orthophosphate’s to all Edmonton water supply by the end of 2020 as a blanket solution.

I still need to find information about orthophosphate’s as I’m unfamiliar with them.

Does anyone know if orthophosphate’s will affect my aquariums?

if your town uses orthophosphate, please post anything you know about them.

 

[tlindsey]

Ok, so I haven’t compiled all of my information or fully processed it yet.

link to article

Redirect Notice

it is comparing this lead contamination to the flint Michigan water crisis of 2015. (Not including the bacterial contamination)

EPCOR In Edmonton has stated they will be adding orthophosphate’s to all Edmonton water supply by the end of 2020 as a blanket solution.

I still need to find information about orthophosphate’s as I’m unfamiliar with them.

Does anyone know if orthophosphate’s will affect my aquariums?

if your town uses orthophosphate, please post anything you know about them.

duanes

 

[duanes]

I worked at a water plant in Milwaukee, another old city where lead pipes were installed in houses made in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
My house these was built in the 1870s, and when tested for lead was over the MCL if 15 ppb.
The drinking water in Milwaukee plant started adding organophosphates in the mid 1990s at a level of about 3ppm (if I remember right), and my house was one of many used as a test subject.
After the 1st year of phosphate addition, my tap water went from over 15 ppb down to 8 ppb.
By the next year, as the phosphates further coated the insides of pipes, preventing lead leaching, the lead and copper concentration was down to 3ppb.
And if you are concerned about the effect of phosphate, consider there is normally over 1000 ppm of phoshate in one can of Coke (in the old days soda's were called phosphates) and to achieve the kind of lead blockage in distribution system pipes, only # 3ppm million is required.

 

[xraycer]

Cool info, as always, Duane!

I'll also add that if you ever run out of toilet bowl cleaner, Coke is a good substitute.

 

[RD.]

RD city has been treating with caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) for years.

Lead Monitoring in Red Deer’s Water - The City of Red Deer

While lead is a naturally occurring element found in rock and soil, extensive man-made use has resulted in its widespread presence in the environment.

www.reddeer.ca

Lead Services Q&A Backgrounder - The City of Red Deer

Answers to common questions about water pipes, lead service, plumbing systems, drinking water, water quality, and water testing in Red Deer.

www.reddeer.ca

The most important thing to do is allow your taps to run in the AM (run toilets etc) to flush any water that has been sitting for several hours, out of the lines. I do this every morning before I drink tap water, and before I do water changes. Perhaps this is when these tests were being performed, in houses that were built in the 30's & 40's? Not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Personally I think that comparing this CA situation to what happened in Flint is nothing short of sensationalism journalism.

 

[Niki_up]

I worked at a water plant in Milwaukee, another old city where lead pipes were installed in houses made in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
My house these was built in the 1870s, and when tested for lead was over the MCL if 15 ppb.
The drinking water in Milwaukee plant started adding organophosphates in the mid 1990s at a level of about 3ppm (if I remember right), and my house was one of many used as a test subject.
After the 1st year of phosphate addition, my tap water went from over 15 ppb down to 8 ppb.
By the next year, as the phosphates further coated the insides of pipes, preventing lead leaching, the lead and copper concentration was down to 3ppb.
And if you are concerned about the effect of phosphate, consider there is normally over 1000 ppm of phoshate in one can of Coke (in the old days soda's were called phosphates) and to achieve the kind of lead blockage in distribution system pipes, only # 3ppm million is required.

Thanks for the info, informative as usual.

phosphates? This sounds like a possible algae problem.

 

[Niki_up]

RD city has been treating with caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) for years.

Lead Monitoring in Red Deer’s Water - The City of Red Deer

While lead is a naturally occurring element found in rock and soil, extensive man-made use has resulted in its widespread presence in the environment.

www.reddeer.ca

Lead Services Q&A Backgrounder - The City of Red Deer

Answers to common questions about water pipes, lead service, plumbing systems, drinking water, water quality, and water testing in Red Deer.

www.reddeer.ca

The most important thing to do is allow your taps to run in the AM (run toilets etc) to flush any water that has been sitting for several hours, out of the lines. I do this every morning before I drink tap water, and before I do water changes. Perhaps this is when these tests were being performed, in houses that were built in the 30's & 40's? Not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Personally I think that comparing this CA situation to what happened in Flint is nothing short of sensationalism journalism.

Thank you RD. I will give these a read tonight after work.

mans your most likely correct in saying sensationalismjournalism

 

[duanes]

Thanks for the info, informative as usual.

phosphates? This sounds like a possible algae problem.

Because the type phosphates used, came in a gel like form, (they were a kind of snotty) they mostly stuck to the inside of the distribution system pipes.
I didn't notice any jump in algae forming the tanks, even though I expected to get more.
My normal water change schedule was between 30 and 40% every other day on my tanks, and I used planted refugiums on many tanks, so this may have helped eat up any excess phosphate.