2026 Home Visits: October 28 to November 4
The Rural Municipality of St. Clements is participating in Manitoba’s Residential Lead Monitoring Program to help identify and reduce potential lead exposure from drinking water at the tap.
From October 28 to November 4, 2026, RM water system operators will visit homes connected to the East Selkirk Public Water Supply to invite residents to participate in voluntary lead testing.
Testing is free, and participation is voluntary.
How will the 2026 program work?
RM water system operators will visit eligible homes, knock on doors and explain the purpose of the program. Staff will be travelling in an RM pickup truck.
Residents who wish to participate will be provided with a sample bottle and instructions for collecting a water sample from their drinking water tap.
You do not need to let RM staff into your home. Residents can collect their own sample using the bottle provided by staff.
RM staff will have RM-issued identification (a lanyard with name and RM logo). If you have questions about whether someone visiting your property is an authorized RM staff member, please contact the RM office to verify the visit.
Why is lead testing important?
Lead can enter drinking water through plumbing materials inside a home, even when the water supplied by the municipal water system meets drinking water guidelines.
Potential sources include older pipes, lead-based solder and certain plumbing fixtures. Homes built before 1950 may be more likely to have plumbing materials containing lead, although lead can be present in homes of various ages.
Lead exposure can be harmful to health, particularly for infants, young children and pregnant people. Testing can help residents understand whether lead is present in their drinking water and whether steps to reduce exposure may be needed.
Who can participate?
Free lead testing is available to residential customers connected to the East Selkirk Public Water Supply.
Participation is voluntary and is particularly encouraged for households with infants, young children, pregnant people or potentially older plumbing materials.
How are samples collected?
Sampling follows Manitoba’s Provincial Operational Guideline using the Random Daytime (RDT) method.
Residents participating in the program will be provided with instructions. The sample requirements include:
- Collecting a 1-litre sample.
- Using the cold-water kitchen tap or another tap commonly used for drinking and food preparation.
- Not flushing the tap before collecting the sample.
- Not removing the tap aerator or screen before sampling.
Please follow the instructions provided by RM staff to ensure your sample is collected correctly.
What happens to the results?
Samples will be submitted to an accredited laboratory for analysis at no cost to participating residents.
Contact information for participating property owners will be recorded on the laboratory requisition form so individual results can be shared directly with them once the analysis is complete.
If a result indicates lead levels above the applicable guideline, the RM will provide information about options to reduce lead exposure, which may include certified point-of-use water filters or flushing practices. The RM will also work with the appropriate provincial officials and Public Health, as needed, on follow-up and communication.
About lead in East Selkirk’s drinking water
Water produced at the East Selkirk Water Treatment Plant meets the applicable guideline for lead. Water is distributed through high-density polyethylene (HDPE) mains and service pipes.
However, lead can still enter drinking water through plumbing components within individual properties. Testing at the tap helps identify potential concerns that may not be evident from testing water at the treatment plant or within the distribution system.
Why does the RM conduct this program?
Manitoba’s Office of Drinking Water established the Residential Lead Monitoring Program to help public water suppliers meet regulatory requirements for monitoring lead at consumers’ taps.
The program includes annual sampling and reporting to the Province to support informed decisions about drinking water quality, corrosion control, lead service line replacement where applicable and public education.
More information
For more information about lead in drinking water, consult Manitoba’s resource for homeowners and home-based child care providers:
Residents with questions about the 2026 Residential Lead Monitoring Program or an upcoming home visit can contact the RM of St. Clements office.