A Toronto Councillor is calling for more due diligence and disclosure around legacy lead water pipes through proposed new obligations for owners of small multifamily buildings. In a recently filed motion, Councillor Dianne Saxe notes that some municipally owned lead water pipes are still in place, serving more than 20,000 households, and it’s presumed there are still more privately owned lead pipes connecting from the City’s feeder line into older buildings.

The motion, which has been referred to Toronto Council’s planning and housing committee for consideration, urges a new by-law to prevent lead poisoning, specifically focusing on the landlords of buildings with six or fewer units that were built prior to 1950. If Council agrees, City staff would be directed to explore the feasibility of mandating designated landlords to determine whether there is a lead water pipe or pipes in their buildings, and where they exist to:

• disclose the information to tenants; and
• either replace the pipe or provide tenants with an NSF-053-certified filter and subsequently needed replacement cartridges.

“Through the Priority Lead Water Service Replacement Program and Capital Water Service Replacement Program, the City of Toronto has taken important steps to eliminate lead pipes. However, landlords currently have no obligation to replace dangerous lead pipes on their properties, nor inform potentially vulnerable tenants that they are present,” Saxe’s motion states. “Tenants must not be kept in the dark.”