| The City of Toronto recently added one more item | | | | technology. |
| to your growing Worry List: There's too much lead in | | | | "I'm sure water delivery would be a viable |
| your tap water. Bluntly put, the supposedly safe lead | | | | alternative," she says. "You have to do something |
| levels in water are five times higher than they should | | | | about the source; you have to do something about |
| be, a recent report from the city's environmental | | | | the state of the lake." |
| protection office revealed. | | | | And if the technology does indeed do what the |
| So, you've been told to run your tap water each | | | | manufacturers say, why government doesn't use it - |
| morning until its cold to flush out the water that's | | | | why should it be up to individual consumers, who |
| been in the lead or lead-soldered pipes all night. If | | | | may not be able to afford the devices. |
| you've been out all day, you should flush the pipes | | | | Concern over the safety of drinking water has sent |
| out again when you return home. High lead levels in | | | | sales of Canadian water treatment devices gushing. |
| the bloodstream can cause brain damage, high blood | | | | Annual sales of water delivery have more than |
| pressure and nervous disorders. Lead is especially | | | | doubled in three years, to $11 million in 2007, the last |
| dangerous to children because their brains are still | | | | year for which figures are available. But choosing the |
| developing. | | | | suitable water delivery is still a murky area for |
| This latest news about our water makes Toronto | | | | consumers. There are no government standards, |
| resident Jan Upfield especially anxious. | | | | nothing that systematically ensures shoppers that a |
| "As far as I'm concerned there are no acceptable | | | | product does what its manufacturer claims. The |
| levels," she says. Upfield has been buying water | | | | issues for consumers are largely two-fold: Quality and |
| delivery for more than a decade. This year, her | | | | taste. |
| family will spend nearly $700 on the bottled product, | | | | Taste is easy. It's either acceptable to you or it's not. |
| rather than drink the water that flows from Lake | | | | The question of quality is more difficult. Water from |
| Ontario through Metro treatment plants. "When I turn | | | | municipally treated sources is supposed to be safe, |
| on the tap in the morning my house smells like a | | | | but there are nagging doubts about what levels are |
| swimming pool," says Upfield, of the chlorine stench. | | | | acceptable over a lifetime. More and more consumers |
| "I use distilled water to cook with and spring water | | | | are questioning the ability of health and environmental |
| for juices and drinking. You can taste the difference." | | | | officials to protect them from the host of |
| If you can't swim in Lake Ontario, one of the most | | | | contaminants that regularly invade their drinking |
| polluted lakes in the world, why would you want to | | | | supply. For the most part, municipal water treatment |
| drink from it. | | | | plants were not designed to eliminate synthetic |
| Now she's facing yet another dilemma. Bottled water | | | | chemicals. And the effects of many foreign |
| is costing her a fortune, money that could be used | | | | substances remain largely unknown. Against that |
| on other essentials. She's thought about buying an | | | | backdrop, it's no wonder the water delivery industry |
| inexpensive water delivery to hook up to the | | | | is booming. |
| household plumbing, but is skeptical of the | | | | |