Regina city council approves 15-year lead pipe replacement program

Regina's city council has unanimously approved a 15-year lead pipe replacement program, but not without some councillors arguing it should happen faster. 

Council approved a city report recommending the 15-year timeline and budget of $36 million Wednesday afternoon. It also had options of five years or 10 years, but the city administration recommended 15 due to construction concerns and concerns about digging up new roads. 

During the debate, Councillor Andrew Stevens proposed moving up the timeframe to 10 years. This would double the cost, but Stevens said it was the timeframe the city should work toward. Stevens was supported by councillors Dan LeBlanc, Shanon Zachidniak and Cheryl Stadnichuk. 

"If we had an unsafe road, we wouldn't just suggest people get safer vehicles, we'd fix the road," LeBlanc said.  

The proposal to move up the timeframe was defeated, with councillors Lori Bresciani, John Findura, Terina Shaw, Jason Mancinelli, Landon Mohl and Bob Hawkins, and Mayor Sandra Masters against it. 

Hawkins said the water rates would go up with a 10-year program, or the city would have to make difficult choices such as less money for assisted housing or to repair roads. 

"It's not like we're saying to anybody you have to drink lead water," Hawkins said. " And over the next 15 years we'll solve this problem." 

Councillor Andrew Stevens also proposed administration fees be also waived for low income people getting their private lines replaced — which homeowners pay for. Councillor Shaw was the only one to vote against that proposal.

Community association had pushed for five year program

The Cathedral Area Community Association had been calling on city council to choose the five-year option in the report. 

"We don't think that any Regina residents should have to put themselves at risk for up to 15 years waiting for this infrastructure project to come to a head," said Casey Peart, a member of the Cathedral Area Community Association. 

Peart said the association was confused about the timeline after the previous city council wanted to explore a five-year program in December 2019. A large number of the lead pipe service connections are in the Cathedral neighbourhood. 

"Why should a certain segment of the population incur potential health risks for another 15 years?" Peart said. "There is no safe level of lead in water ... we feel that it needs to be kind of underscored, the implications that drinking lead water could have."  

The report said several factors determine how much lead is present in tap water, including the condition of the lead service connection pipe. Any water in contact with lead plumbing can take on lead and be a risk for anyone drinking it, it said.

Private lines to be replaced when public ones are dug up

The report also recommended making it mandatory for people to replace their private water connection pipes when the city replaces the public ones. This means homeowners will be on the hook for the cost. The city will have payment options that give homeowners up to 10 years to pay.

There are about 3,600 city-owned lead pipe connections in Regina, but about 7,000 to 8,000 private lead connections. The city estimates home owners will pay a combined total of $50 million to $70 million.