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Saskatoon Freezes Out Lead Pipes
Friday, April 23, 2010
Saskatoon has given the "cold shoulder" to lead pipes connecting local residences to the municipal water supply. For the geographically challenged, Saskatoon, with a population of 250,000, is located 258 kilometers northwest of Regina in the prairie province of Saskatchewan (next door to Manitoba). Have your bearings now?
A study by the American Water Works Association revealed lead levels can spike significantly when city workers replace old pipes with new ones and re-attach to homes that have their own lead pipes connecting to the city 's main water line. The cost of replacement....up to $6,000 Canadian dollars. Ouch! Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your perspective, Saskatoon kicks in 60% of the cost. Even better, residents can add their portion to their 2011 property tax bill. Considering Saskatoon's median family income of $70,000, that still amounts to a 5% hit.
A city spokesperson said this is simply an effort to safeguard its' population (sans their pocketbooks) from lead contamination. Can't argue with this on principle, but principle apparently has a price. If given a choice, many might choose a less costly option like in-house water filtration, for a fraction of the cost.
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Posted in: Mainstream