The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) wants all students, staff and parents to know that drinking water in our schools is safe. We test drinking water fixtures for levels of lead on a regular basis, according to provincial regulations.
In 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has made changes to the Safe Drinking Water Act. It is important for everyone to understand what these changes mean regarding safe drinking water in our schools. Here are some key points of information:
The changes require school boards to only test water at drinking water locations, e.g. fountains and food preparation areas. At other water locations designated as hand washing only (e.g. washrooms and classrooms), the TDSB has posted signage to visually indicate that these fixtures won’t be tested for lead and therefore, are not considered 'drinking water sources' for student consumption.
Many of the water sources now designated as hand washing only are located in classrooms. Some older classrooms may have five or more taps/sinks that are no longer designated as drinking water taps. In order to meet the new guidelines, the TDSB is installing more drinking water sources in schools to ensure that there is adequate and easy access to drinking water outlets on each floor. Testing for safe drinking water is also increasing.
Here is more information to help you understand the steps we have taken to ensure that water in our schools is safe to drink: