Learn about the safe, high-quality drinking water provided by Halton Region to residents and businesses in Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville.
Halton’s drinking water comes from either Lake Ontario or groundwater sources.
The water is treated to provincial water quality standards and then potable water is distributed to homes and businesses through underground water systems.
The property owner is responsible for the section of water service line that runs from the curb stop into the home. Property owners are also responsible for the maintenance of devices, service valves, plumbing, fittings and accessories located on the private side of the property line, as defined by the Drinking Water System By-law.
Halton Region is responsible for the section of the water service line that runs under the street, up to and including the curb stop (from the watermain to the property line). We also maintain the water meter inside and outside your home, but not the pipes that connect directly to the water meter.
Halton’s water is safe to drink and the potential for lead in our drinking water is extremely low in our community.
Halton Region’s annual water quality reports confirm that in the public portion of the system we are meeting Provincial standards, under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 (external link). You can view the most recent Drinking Water System Quality Report on the Water Quality Reports page.
The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) enforces the Drinking Water Quality Standard for municipalities across Ontario. The Provincial Standard for lead is 10 µg/L (micrograms per litre).
Halton Region conducts regular sampling of public infrastructure and lead sampling in homes and within Halton’s distribution systems as mandated by the province through the Community Lead Testing Program.
Results between 2007 and 2019:
Although the risk of lead in Halton Region’s drinking water systems remain low, the MECP requires that Ontario Municipalities, including Halton Region, continue to sample for lead in private plumbing and the Municipal Drinking Water Systems twice a year.
Our high compliance rating of 99% is a result of all the proactive and continuous measures Halton Region has taken over the past two decades to ensure we are delivering the safest and highest quality drinking water possible.
Although Halton’s drinking water is safe and the risk of lead is very low, there may be lead in the water from private pipes, fittings and connections in older homes. If your house was built before 1975, we encourage you to check your service line for lead.
To check or observe for lead pipes:
The following pipes do not contain lead:
Halton Region is committed to providing residents and businesses with safe, clean drinking water. Halton routinely tests for the presence of lead in the municipal drinking water system. As legislated by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Halton Region must also test for the presence of lead in drinking water at consumers’ taps.
If you are interested in volunteering for Halton Region’s Community-Wide Lead Sampling Program, please email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311. Please also contact us if you are unsure if you have lead pipes or if you have any other questions.
If you live in a condo corporation, please contact your property management group.
If lead is suspected in the plumbing service line, we encourage residents to take corrective action to replace the private portion of the lead plumbing and/or service line.
You can also take other steps to reduce lead levels in drinking water by:
Please note: Boiling your water will not reduce lead levels.
Halton’s water is safe to drink. The potential for lead in Halton Region’s drinking water system is extremely low. All known public lead service lines and connections have been replaced.
You are at a higher risk of lead exposure if you:
A developing fetus and young children are most vulnerable to long term lead exposure. It can cause neurological deficits related to learning and behavior in children. Chronic lead exposure has been associated with anemia, hypertension, kidney problems, neuropathy, and adverse reproductive effects in adults.
If you are concerned about exposure to lead, speak to your doctor.