From the City of Lacombe:

The distribution of safe, reliable drinking water is a core service provided to residents and businesses in Lacombe and is mandated through the City’s Utility Bylaw.

Lacombe draws its water from the City of Red Deer Treatment Plant via a regional water line connecting Blackfalds, Lacombe, and Ponoka. The water quality is monitored daily at various stages of treatment, as well as in the distribution system, to ensure that all water quality parameters meet and exceed the acceptable limits as outlined by the federal and provincial governments.

In Lacombe, City staff has conducted lead testing twice a year since 2010 by drawing water samples at the City’s three pump houses and within their respective zones. Test results indicate Lacombe’s drinking water is of excellent quality, with contaminant levels significantly under the federally mandated maximum allowable concentrations.

Recently, Health Canada cut the guideline for acceptable levels of lead in drinking water in half – from 10 parts per billion to five parts per billion. There is an additional requirement to change the location of where water samples are to be taken: it now focuses on the water at the customer’s tap.

"Right now, we aren't concerned. Certainly, under the guidelines put forward by Alberta Environment, we are well within even the new upper limits for lead that have been established. The water in Lacombe is certainly safe to drink," said Director of Planning and Operations Jordan Thompson. 

Health Canada has also introduced guidelines for acceptable levels of manganese in Lacombe’s water distribution system, with a maximum allowable concentration of 0.12 mg/L, and an aesthetic objective of 0.02 mg/L. When manganese is found above the aesthetic 0.02 mg/L, the water becomes discolored (pink); however, it is still safe to drink.

In response, the City is developing new practices for its water management program in order to achieve compliance with the new standards.

Monitoring for lead will require water sampling at the tap within buildings, as lead concentrations can be affected by plumbing fixtures and building service lines, especially in older homes.

Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) recently provided municipalities with guidance on water sampling protocols for lead (at the tap) and manganese (in the distribution system and source water). The City’s utility operators are in the process of reviewing these guidelines.

"As of right now, we have excellent water quality. Our water's being treated in Central Alberta at Red Deer's water treatment plant. That water treatment plant services the City of Red Deer, as well as Blackfalds, Lacombe, Lacombe County, Ponoka, Ponoka County... all those residents are getting the same high-quality treatment from that localized facility.

"Within our own distribution system, we test against the regulations on a regular basis and our water quality meets or exceeds those regulations consistently. So, no, we have no concerns about our drinking water. We're going to be following the new sampling protocol and as we get more information we will take whatever actions to ensure we're meeting those new standards," Thompson said.