How does lead get into water?
Lead enters water when pipes and other plumbing fixtures that contain lead corrode, allowing lead to leach into the water. Corrosion is likely in older pipes and is especially a risk where water has high acidity or low mineral content. While lead does not naturally occur in water, it is a naturally occurring metal in earth’s crust and was once widely used in the production of plumbing materials, gasoline, and paint. The use of lead was significantly reduced in the 1970s and 1980s but is still clearly a threat to health today.
Lead plumbing fixtures are more common in older homes built before the Safe Drinking Water Act was amended 1986, which prohibited the use of pipes, solder, and flux that were not lead free. Lead service lines are also more common in older cities and are usually the most significant source of lead in water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). So, even if your home’s pipes are lead-free, you are still potentially at risk of lead in your tap water.
How much lead is safe in drinking water?
No amount of lead is safe in drinking water. The maximum contaminant level of lead in drinking water set by the EPA is zero. Lead is not only harmful to health at low levels, but also can accumulate in the body over time, allowing low level exposure to lead to high level health concerns.
According to the Safe Drinking Water Act, a plumbing fixture is considered lead free if it has less than a 0.25 percent weighted average of lead across its surface. While this is a small amount, it is important to be aware that “lead free” does not always mean zero lead, and that minimal amounts of lead can leach into drinking water.
Is lead in drinking water dangerous?
Yes, lead in drinking water is very dangerous. Lead is especially dangerous to children, since negative physical and behavioral side effects can occur with lower levels of lead exposure in children than in adults. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that children are exposed to high levels of lead through their water supply in four million homes across the United States.
Even though adults can tolerate higher levels of lead exposure, they are not immune to its harmful effects, such as cardiovascular, kidney, and reproductive problems. Pregnant women and their unborn babies are even more at risk, as lead exposure can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight.
What are the side effects of lead in children?
- Brain and nervous system damage
- Learning disabilities
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- Delay in mental and physical development
- Impaired hearing
- Anemia
What are the side effects of lead in adults?
- Increased risk of high blood pressure
- Kidney damage
- Reproductive problems
What are the side effects of lead in pregnant women and unborn babies?
- Increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth
- Increased risk of preeclampsia
- Low birth weight in babies
- Damage to babies’ brains, kidneys, and nervous systems
How do you know if there is lead in your tap water?
You can find out if there is lead in your tap water by calling your municipal water supplier, by testing your water with a home lead test kit, and by finding out if your home has lead pipes or is serviced by lead pipes. Lead is odorless and tasteless in water, so tests are the only way to confidently determine if your home’s water supply contains this dangerous contaminant.
Municipal water suppliers test the water supply frequently, and if you ask for the results, they are required by law to give them to you. However, a municipal water test would not reveal if lead is entering your water through your home plumbing, so performing a home lead test is recommended as well. Also, if you are on well water, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to test the water for lead and other contaminants.
How to test for lead in water:
Most home lead test kits are easy to use and simply involve placing a test strip in a sample of your water. Unfortunately, most home test kits will only tell you if your water tests positive or negative for lead. They won’t tell you how much lead your water contains. To receive an accurate reading of exactly how much lead is in your water, the EPA recommends enlisting a state certified laboratory to conduct a test.
How to check your pipes for lead:
You can check your pipes for lead by performing a scratch test. Use a coin or the flat edge of a screwdriver to gently scratch through any corrosion that has built up on a pipe. If the scratched area appears shiny and silver, the pipe is most likely made of lead. While this test is a good way to get an idea if your home’s water supply is at risk of lead exposure, it is always best to acquire the help of a water expert or a licensed plumber to professionally inspect your pipes.
How do you remove lead from water?
Lead can be removed from water through reverse osmosis, distillation, and activated carbon filtration when configured for lead reduction. Lead can also be removed by identifying and replacing all the pipes and plumbing fixtures in your home that contain lead. However, since water may travel through lead pipes before it makes its way to your home plumbing system, one of the following filtration systems can provide a valuable defense against lead and can give you peace of mind.
Filtration systems can be designed as either point of use (POU) filters or whole house filters, but for lead reduction, we recommend point of use filters. Installing a point of use filter on each faucet in your home will provide protection if lead is coming from municipal water or if lead is coming from your home plumbing. Whereas a whole house filter would only protect you from lead in the municipal water supply. Reverse osmosis systems, water distillers, and carbon filters can all be installed as point of use filters and will ensure that the water you consume is filtered for lead.
1. Reverse osmosis
A reverse osmosis (RO) system uses pressure to push unfiltered water through a semipermeable membrane. The membrane has small pores that block contaminants, such as lead, but allow clean water to flow through to the other side.
Learn more: What is a Reverse Osmosis System and How Does it Work?
2. Distillation
Distillation is a water treatment method that mimics how water is purified in nature: through evaporation in the atmosphere. Water distillers convert water into steam, eliminating lead and other contaminants because they cannot turn into steam as water can. Once the water returns to its liquid form, it is contaminant free.
Learn more: What is a Water Distiller and How Does it Work?
3. Activated carbon filters
Carbon filters contain activated carbon that has an abundance of pores along its surface and infrastructure. When water runs through the activated carbon, chemicals and other contaminants are captured and clean water emerges on the other side.
It is important to note that not all carbon filters can filter lead. They can only filter lead if certified to do so, which requires carbon that has been specifically treated to reduce lead or combined with another filtration media designed and certified to remove lead. Look for the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certification or the Water Quality Association certification to ensure your filter has been tested and certified.
Learn more: Activated Carbon Filters 101
How do you reduce the risk of lead in tap water?
You can reduce the risk of lead in tap water by using only cold water and by letting your water run for a couple of minutes before you use it. Hot water corrodes lead and allows lead to dissolve into water more easily than in cold water. If you need hot water for drinking or cooking, it is safer to get cold water from the tap and then heat it yourself. Contrary to popular belief, boiling water does not remove lead. Also, the longer water sits in lead pipes, the higher the risk that lead will leach into the water. The CDC recommends running the water for two minutes before using it if the water has been idle in the pipes for more than six hours.
Can you shower in lead-contaminated water?
Yes, it is safe to shower in lead-contaminated water. Human skin does not absorb lead from water, so it should be safe for both kids and adults to bathe in lead-contaminated water. Although, it is possible to ingest marginal amounts of lead while showering or bathing if the water gets into your mouth.
We would love to help you feel confident in the safety of your water supply. If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding lead in water, please don’t hesitate to contact us.