HAGERSVILLE—Retired water/wastewater treatment professional and Tuscarora Street, Hagersville resident Roger Lambert is sharing concerns about the taste and odour of water in his home following the installation of new polyethylene (PE) water connection pipes on his street by Haldimand County.
“The water has a horrible plastic chemical taste and odour,” said Lambert in an email to The Press. “The water from our hot water tank is much worse after being heated.”
Lambert claims to have flushed his system extensively since the original cast iron pipe was replaced, to no avail. He criticized Haldimand County for introducing PE pipes “that our bodies will now have to deal with.”
Kris Franklin, Manager of Engineering and Capital Works for Haldimand replied to Lambert’s concerns, noting that the pipes in question comply with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Watermain Design Criteria and are approved for use in potable water systems.
“While changes in taste or smell can occasionally occur within a water system, such occurrences are not typical and have not been reported elsewhere in this case,” he noted.
Franklin listed the various testing protocols used to test the water’s potability post-installation.
“Watermain testing follows the MECP’s Watermain Disinfection Procedure and American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards. Before connection to the municipal drinking water system, chlorine residual and bacteriological samples are taken to ensure proper disinfection. After the connection, further chlorine residual testing is conducted to validate the initial results.”
Current County protocols do not include specific testing for possible chemical leaching from PE materials, as such materials are pre-approved for potable water use under provincial standards.
Lambert wants more testing done on the water from his home: “I do not want the usual testing for suspended solids, turbidity, chlorine residual, colour, etc. I want a full and comprehensive analysis of all potential and harmful chemicals that are associated with various plastics,” he said.
Franklin responded, “The County does not conduct in-home water testing, as results can be influenced by private plumbing systems and fixtures. However, we maintain a robust water quality monitoring program, which includes regular sampling at hydrants and designated sampling stations within the public right-of-way. These samples are representative of the water delivered to residences and are used to ensure compliance with provincial drinking water standards.”
He said that while third-party testing is outside the County’s scope, “residents are welcome to pursue independent testing if they wish.”
He noted that “the section of watermain in question was a part of an active construction project at the time of the initial complaint and has since been flushed and tested multiple times.”
Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH) representative Shawn Falcao provided a statement from the health unit on water safety standards, noting various provincial regulations: “These regulations set maximum acceptable concentrations for chemical, microbiological, and radiological contaminants…. Polyethylene water lines used in Ontario must comply with CSA B137.1 and NSF/ANSI Standard 61.”
The statement continued, “If community members have concerns about the safety of their drinking water, they are encouraged to contact Grand Erie Public Health at 519-753-4937 or 519-900-9600. Depending on the nature of the concern and type of water system involved, public health inspectors can advise and/or contact the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, if necessary.”
Lambert remains unsatisfied with the current testing process: “In my case, I request the County undertake the water quality analysis pertaining to the potential leaching of toxic material from the PE pipes. There was no need for this step when cast iron pipes were used, but we now have a very different situation.”
He continues to push for an answer on the source of the new taste and odour, noting requests for assistance to his local councillor and MP Leslyn Lewis were unanswered at the time of the interview. He plans to appear as a delegate at a future Council meeting to further plead his case.
