The City of Saskatoon has officially announced it will not meet its original goal of replacing all lead water service connections by the end of 2026. City administration is now seeking to amend a bylaw to push the completion target back to 2028.
Reasons Behind the Delay
A report presented to the city's environment, utilities and corporate services committee outlined several factors contributing to the shortfall. The pandemic caused some work to be postponed, while rising construction costs and capacity limitations within the local construction industry have also slowed progress. The city typically replaces about 300 lead pipes annually, but even a planned increase to 395 replacements in 2026 would not have been sufficient to meet the original deadline.
The Scope of the Problem and Health Concerns
According to city officials, approximately 675 lead service lines remain in Saskatoon, primarily concentrated in older neighbourhoods such as Montgomery, Nutana, Caswell Hill, North Park, and Sutherland. These pipes, installed before 1950, can pose a health risk if drinking water sits stagnant in them, allowing lead levels to rise above recommended guidelines.
Health Canada warns that ongoing lead exposure can affect the brain, nervous system, blood, and kidneys. "The risks are greater for children, because their growing bodies are still developing and absorb lead more easily," the federal agency states.
Cost-Sharing Program and Next Steps for Residents
The replacement program operates on a cost-sharing model, where homeowners cover 40% of the cost and the city pays the remaining 60%. Todd Grabowski, the city's interim manager for asset preservation, noted that construction notices for the 2024 work will be sent out in the coming months. Affected residents were notified of the updated timeline last year.
For those living with lead lines until their replacement, the city recommends flushing toilets, running showers, or doing laundry to refresh the water in the pipes before using it for drinking or cooking. Residents can also use water filters certified to remove lead, identifiable by an "NSF-053" designation on the packaging.
Between 2017 and 2023, Saskatoon successfully replaced about 3,210 lead service connections. The new 2028 target provides a revised framework for addressing the final 675 lines and safeguarding the community's drinking water.
