Lead in your Drinking water
Lead in your drinking water is something that is far to common of an occurrence this day and age. And, why? We all know that Lead is not good for you. Well, it’s your pipes and the water delivering systems that have lead in them and are eroding. Lead is a by-product of the pipes that carry the water. Of course, there are other places that the water could pick up the lead contaminants, but this one is hte most common. There is no safe level of lead in your drinking water and this is a big concern for your health. Especially in children, lead can cause huge health issues and even death. These issues are irreversible. Read this article from the EPA about Lead in Drinking Water.
Lead can be found in old paints, pipes, and poorly coated pottery. Lead can remain in a child’s blood for decades and bones. Unlike other elements lead is accumulate, meaning it will build up within your body. Moderate to low levels will even cause damage to adults. Drinking water is only one of the various ways you can be exposed to lead, however, it is also the easiest to cure. Give us a Call and have your water tested.
Lead in Water is Dangerous
Lead in your drinking water is dangerous. Older homes from before 1930’s had plumbing that contained a high amount of lead. These pipes can be easily identified by their dull grey color, can be scratched easily with a butter knife and a magnet won’t stick to them. So, go check your pipes today and see if this description matches something that is carrying your water. If so, they need to be replaced immediately, and not just the plumbing under the house, but it’s on the wall as well. This is an overhaul of a job, but it’s your life we are talking about here. From 190’s – 1980’s Copper was often used, which is safer, however, the solder that was used on the pipes was super high in lead content. This is due to it ease of use. Lead has a low melting rate and it tends to flow very easily. Making it perfect for soldering, so we thought. Later galvanized pipes were used, this helps aid with the corrosion. This does not mean that if your home is newer that it is safe.
It wasn’t until 2014 that the laws got stricter on what can be called “Lead-Free”, which is 0.25% content. Before that, it was 8% or less of lead. That’s still quite a bit of lead.
Water quality of your drinking water has a direct effect on your overall health. Contaminants like Lead and Arsenic can go undetected for years and play a great role in your health and energy levels. They can slowly take effect and the victim is unaware of what is going on. This is often times overlooked and for good reason. Things like respiratory issues wouldn’t scream out, “Check your water!”. Of course, we have all known or heard of someone getting stomach issues for drinking bad water but the health issues lead causes are slow to creep up and far worse than a stomach bug.
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