Halifax’s water utility is proposing spending millions to speed up the replacement of its customers’ lead service lines, citing Star Halifax’s and Global News’ Tainted Water investigation as a catalyst for action.Conducted as part of a national collaboration between universities and media outlets across Canada, including University of King’s College and Concordia University’s Institute for Investigative Journalism, the investigation revealed that nearly a third of tap water tests conducted by Halifax Water since 2012 have exceeded the national guideline for lead.Since the Tainted Water stories were published earlier this month, calls to Halifax Water from homeowners concerned about lead pipes skyrocketed from two to 100 per day and traffic to the utility’s website spiked more than 200 per cent.The utility will ask its board on Thursday to approve a request for more money to speed up the timelines for full replacement of underground pipes that deliver drinking water from water mains to homes.The utility has been proactive in tackling the issue, providing a 25 per cent rebate to customers who replace their lead service lines — but uptake on the program has been slow, with many customers choosing not to replace their lead pipes due to cost, which can top $10,000 before the rebate.If the utility’s new plan is approved, it will spend $10.5 million more on replacing lead service lines on homeowners’ property — potentially increasing their water rates in the short term. But that extra spending will save Halifax Water money in the long term because it will have more control over when it replaces lead service lines on public property, avoiding costly paving work.Sheila Blair-Reid wanted to get the lead pipes removed from her south-end Halifax home last year. Then she got the $15,000 cost estimate for the removal thanks to front stone steps that would have to be lifted and put back in place.“We were f ...
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