Message from the school: Water testing

Dear Parent/Guardian,                                                               October 20th, 2017

Over the course of this summer, all 1,173 of our designated water fixtures (89 schools) were sampled and tested and only 27 (2.3%) exceeded the Provincial Standards on the flushed sample. All of the designated fixtures at our school passed.

Since 2007, the Ontario government has been requiring child care centres and schools to flush the plumbing in their facilities and test drinking water for lead. New amendments to Ontario regulation 243/07 took effect July 1, 2017 that require lead testing within these facilities for all designated fixtures used to provide drinking water and/or prepare food or drink for children under 18.

The Ontario drinking water quality standard for lead is 10 micrograms per litre. This standard is based on a national guideline set by Health Canada. School Boards and Child Care Centres have three years in which to phase in the new sampling and testing procedures.

At OCSB we elected to complete sampling and testing of designated fixtures across the entire district this summer. In consultation with the School Principal, the Planning and Facilities Department is responsible for sampling, testing and implementing remedial action if and where required. Any water fixture that is available to persons under the age 18 that is not designated for drinking, or the making of food or drink will be posted with a sign illustrating that it is not to be used for those purposes. Principals, teachers, support staff and Child Care Supervisors and staff are aware of these protocols and are expected to communicate them to students.

If a child care centre or school gets a drinking water test result that is above the Provincial Standards for lead, the local Medical Officer of Health will issue a water advisory notice and consult with Planning and Facilities on corrective actions to be taken. When the Planning and Facilities receives an advisory the fixture in question is no longer accessible to students. After corrective action (flushing, removal/replacement of the fixture) and additional sampling and testing shows that the fixture is within Provincial Standards the local Medical Officer of Health lifts the advisory and the fixture is made available. These local processes have been in place since 2007 and are working well.

Again, we are pleased to inform you that all designated fixtures for drinking water, making of food and drink tested satisfactory at our school. The results will soon be available to the public at our school.

Please contact me if you have any questions regarding this letter.

Sincerely,

Cindy Aldrich-Braddon

Principal