Asbestos Concrete (AC) Watermains
Asbestos Concrete (AC) Watermains
BMID staff and Board are aware of the recent media news story on Asbestos Concrete (AC) water mains.
The page presents BMID’s conditions and the best available industry information we are aware of in regard to the issues with AC watermains.
- BMID has 113 kilometers of AC water main in our water distribution system. Most of the AC pipes were installed during the ARDA (Agriculture Rehabilitation and Development Act) works between 1968 and 1972.
- BMID has not installed any new AC pipe since 1981. PVC is the most common watermain pipe material to have been installed since then, with some steel mains and ductile iron mains also being used.
- BMID’s AC pipe, based on conditions assessment and inspections, is considered to be in very good shape. The pipe is approximately 50 years old and BMID expects at least another 20 years of lifespan from these mains.
- The factors that decrease the lifespan of AC pipe include acidic water (below 6.5 pH), corrosive soils, wet ground conditions, or a combination of the above conditions. BMID is fortunate to have controlled pH water (pH 7.2-7.5), and only limited areas of clay/corrosive soils.
- In 2019, BMID conducted tests for AC fibers in the water and had found none. The lab results for testing are in the link on this page. Since that time, the lab testing abilities and procedures from the lab have changed and BMID is awaiting results from newer tests.
- The health risks from AC watermains are addressed by Health Canada in their document on Asbestos in water, and in the information package produced by the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association.
- BMID’s testing program for AC pipe is for two reasons: One is to provide information to the public on current typical AC fiber counts in the water distribution system, and the second is to provide an indication to the BMID staff as to the performance and condition of BMIDs AC water distribution mains so that informed decisions can be made of when to renew the water mains.
- Should the public require additional protection or not feel safe with the water provided, we would recommend that they install an under-the-sink 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis water treatment unit for their drinking water. We would recommend units that are NSF 58 (National Sanitation Foundation Std. 58) certified and they require maintenance in the form of changing of filters and other components of the system.
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