St. Margaret's Centre water purification system to remove lead

An Upper Tantallon community centre and arena is getting a remedy for on-going lead contamination issues that have left users unable to drink the centre's water for months. 

The general manager of the St. Margaret's Centre says a water purification system is coming to the centre this spring. 

Members of the centre have not been able to consume the water since late fall after testing last year revealed the lead problem.

The general manager of the municipally-owned centre, Mike Leroux, says a reverse osmosis water purification system should be installed by late May or early June. The system would remove 90 to 99 per cent of tap water impurities. Leroux estimates it will cost more than $20,000.

Leroux says it's not clear what caused the lead levels in the water to rise. He says the arena uses more than 5,000 litres of groundwater daily.

'Pretty inconvenient'

The issue with the arena's water was one of three conditions Deputy Mayor and Councillor Matt Whitman wanted addressed before he'd sign off on the municipal budget.

"I started hearing from residents from before Christmas, it's been ongoing. I've heard lately that there should be a fix on the way in the near future," said Whitman.

There are signs plastered all over the centre warning people not to consume the water. There are vending machines with bottled water, but many members would prefer to use the drinking fountain.

"It's pretty inconvenient. Parents go to the gym to work out and they can't drink the water from the fountain. The boys can't fill their bottles if they forget," said Dave Ford, who is a father and hockey coach.

"Often I run out of water and would like something to refill it, but you just can't use the tap water," said Kim Power after finishing a Zumba class Sunday morning.