What’s in the drinking water?! Health Canada and the BC Ministry of Environment (or as currently named) both provide a Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) for lead in water because long-term exposure to even very small amounts of lead is considered harmful, especially to infants, young children and pregnant women. Even low levels of lead exposure can adversely affect intellectual and behavioral development, growth and hearing in children.
Lead can leach into drinking water from various sources, water treatment plants and buildings, older distribution mains and service lines or a building's pipe jointing compounds, solder joints and fixtures (fountains, faucets / taps) can all combine to create elevated lead levels in our drinking water.