Most Canadians turn on the tap without a second thought — but the reality is that clean, safe drinking water is not guaranteed everywhere. From the devastating Walkerton water crisis to recent reports of dangerously high lead levels in Ontario school drinking fountains, the history of water safety in our province is a sobering reminder of why bottled and distilled water remains an essential choice for families and businesses.

The Walkerton Water Tragedy: A Wake-Up Call

In May 2000, the small town of Walkerton, Ontario, experienced one of Canada’s worst public health disasters. The municipal water supply became contaminated with deadly E. coli and Campylobacter bacteria, largely due to failures in water treatment and monitoring. Seven people died and more than 2,300 became seriously ill — many suffering long-term health consequences including kidney damage and chronic gastrointestinal issues.

The Walkerton tragedy exposed critical vulnerabilities in municipal water systems and led to sweeping reforms under the Clean Water Act. But more than two decades later, concerns about tap water safety persist — and new threats have emerged.

Lead in Ontario School Drinking Water

A recent report by the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) revealed alarming levels of lead in drinking water at schools across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The report found that several GTHA school boards — including Dufferin Peel Catholic, Toronto District, and Peel District — had dozens of schools testing above safe lead thresholds.

In 2019, Health Canada strengthened its guidelines, lowering the acceptable lead level to 5 parts per billion (ppb). Yet Ontario still uses an outdated threshold of 10 ppb — double the national recommendation. According to CELA, Ontario has gone from a leader in school drinking water safety to falling behind the rest of Canada.

Lead exposure is particularly dangerous for children. According to Health Canada, lead in drinking water can negatively affect neurological development, lower IQ, and cause behavioural issues in children. In adults, it can increase blood pressure and cause kidney problems. There is no safe level of lead exposure.

Aging Infrastructure Across the GTA

Lead contamination is not limited to schools. Older homes and neighbourhoods across the GTA may still have lead service lines connecting them to the municipal water supply. The National Plumbing Code of Canada permitted lead in household plumbing until 1975, meaning any home built before that era could have lead pipes carrying water to the kitchen tap.

Even homes with modern plumbing can be affected. Lead solder was commonly used on copper pipe joints until the late 1980s, and brass fixtures can leach small amounts of lead into standing water. If your home was built before 1990, there is a real possibility that lead is present in your water delivery system.

Why Bottled and Distilled Water Is a Safer Choice

Distilled water undergoes a rigorous purification process that removes virtually all contaminants — including lead, bacteria, chlorine, fluoride, and other dissolved solids. The distillation process involves boiling water into steam and then condensing it back into liquid, leaving behind impurities. The result is water that tests at 0–5 parts per million (PPM) total dissolved solids.

For families concerned about what is in their tap water — especially those with young children, pregnant women, or elderly family members — distilled water provides peace of mind. You know exactly what you are drinking: pure water, nothing else.

Protect Your Family and Business

Whether you are a parent worried about lead in your child’s school water, a homeowner in an older GTA neighbourhood, or a business that needs guaranteed water purity, Puretap offers a reliable solution. Our 18-litre distilled water bottles are lab-tested and delivered directly to homes and businesses across the Greater Toronto Area.

For larger commercial or industrial needs, our 1000-litre tote fills provide bulk distilled water at an economical price point.

Do not leave your family’s water safety to chance. Browse our products or contact us to set up regular distilled water delivery in the GTA.