The City of Steinbach is looking for homeowners to help with its annual lead water testing program for 2026. This initiative is part of a provincial requirement to monitor drinking water quality at the tap, following stricter standards set by Health Canada.
While the city’s water distribution system has never contained lead and has used protective corrosion control since 1988, officials are testing at the residential level to check for lead in older home plumbing. Under guidelines from the Office of Drinking Water, the city is prioritizing homes built before 1990, as lead was used in some household plumbing fixtures and solder until that time.
Mike Heppner, the city’s waterworks manager, is calling for volunteers to participate in the testing, which takes place on Tuesdays from June through October. The program is free for residents, and participants receive a visit from city staff who provide the necessary sample container and instructions. Residents collect a one-litre water sample from their tap, which is then sent to an independent laboratory for analysis.
The program is open only to residential and home daycare properties connected to the municipal water system; homes with private wells are not eligible. Those interested in volunteering can sign up through the City of Steinbach website, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 204-346-6211.
