The Ontario government has made amendments to Ontario Regulation 243, which came into effect for schools in 2007 and is intended to reduce children's exposure to lead in drinking water. Effective July 1, 2017, amendments to the regulation make it necessary for samples to be collected and tested for lead content at every drinking water fountain and every tap that is used in the preparation of food or drink or to provide drinking water for consumption by children under 18 years of age by 2020 in elementary schools and 2022 in secondary schools. Prior to July 1, the regulation required school boards to sample and test water for lead annually at only one location in the building.
The LKDSB will be working over the summer months to install the new signage and develop plans to complete the flushing and testing protocols in keeping with the ministry's timelines. As well, the LKDSB plans to install bottle filling stations in all our schools. Our goal is to install a bottle filling station in approximately 25 schools by August 2017 and at least one station in all other schools by August 2018. As always, the health and safety of our students, staff and visitors to our buildings are our number one priority.
For more information, please read a letter from Director Jim Costello: June14_Water_Regulations_Directors_Letter.pdf
Read a Fact Sheet for Parents: Fact Sheet for Parents.pdf