Your home may be in danger of having lead in your water supply.  There have been discussions of the dangerous levels of lead leaching in our schools drinking water, which is concerning as it could affect everyone.  Evidence shows that drinking water contaminated with lead is connected with learning and behavior abnormalities in children and high blood pressure & kidney problems in adults.  According to CNN, “Lead “bio-accumulates” in the body, which means it stays and builds up over time, so ongoing exposure, even at extremely low levels, can become toxic.” So how do we identify lead in your water?

Knowing your pipes

Knowing your pipe system’s age and type is important for any homeowner.  Plumbing systems installed before the 1980’s may contain lead.  Even pipe systems installed later than the 1980’s, could have traces of lead from lead soldering, which was used to join pipes together.  Brass, in faucets made between 1970 – 2014 could have 8% lead, which may contribute to lead in your water.

Water Testing

To know for certain whether or not there is lead in your water is to contact the State lead program to check results of lead in the water tested in your area.  Alternatively, you can reach out to a professional to test your water supply or test the water supply yourself. A professional will be able to directly test the water supply in your home for contaminates such as lead.  To test the water yourself you can purchase a test kit that contains multiple strips, which are placed in your water supply.  These strips will change color as a reaction to what is contaminating your water supply.

Possible Solutions

Lead Leaching is caused by water sitting in your corroded plumbing systems for long periods. To ensure that your water is not contaminated with lead, flush cold water for 2-3 mins prior to use of any water.  This, allows the lead to be flushed out.

For those who like to boil their water, please note that it’s not a solution for reducing lead in your water. Evidence shows boiling has no impact on lead levels. You would have better luck converting to bottled or filtered water.  Although, this can be a bit pricey, your health is worth it.

For those who still remain fearful of lead in their water, replace all possible lead components in your pipe system.  However, this can be costly.

We highly recommend seeking a professional and contacting your City or State to get the water tested in your home. Knowing for certain will not only ease your mind but promote a healthy and happy living environment for you and your family.

Contact the CuraFlo professional in your area on creative solutions for removing lead in your water at lowest possible cost.