Alberta to test water in provincially owned buildings for lead and copper

Alberta plans to test drinking water for lead and copper in more than 200 provincially owned buildings; the request for bids closed this week and the province expects testing and reporting completed by next spring.

Alberta's government plans to test drinking water in all provincially owned buildings for lead and copper, citing aging infrastructure and a desire to be proactive. The request for bids published by the province says the project will cover more than 200 buildings. Infrastructure officials described the move as a shift from case-by-case testing to a province-wide effort. Health Canada has noted that ingestion of lead and copper can be harmful, with lead designated as toxic. Key facts: - The province issued a request for bids to test water for lead and copper in more than 200 provincially owned buildings. - Listed sites include the provincial legislature in Edmonton, museums, two young offender centres, courthouses across the province, provincially run group homes and the Alberta School for the Deaf. - The request for proposals closed to bidders this week, and the province wants testing and reporting completed by spring of next year. - Officials said the testing is intended to be proactive and that any issues identified would be addressed immediately. Summary: The testing is intended to determine whether water systems in older government buildings have degraded and to provide comprehensive results and recommendations. The province has set a target to complete testing and reporting by next spring; testing of schools run by public or Catholic boards was not included and remains the responsibility of those boards.