Does Your Water Have Lead Contamination? Here’s How to Find Out and What to Do About It!
Lead contamination is more common in municipal water supplies than you might think! Despite this typically being a problem of the past, old pipes may either still contain lead sections or lead remnants. We’ve collected a bunch of information regarding all of the surveys that have been done over the years, see for yourself!
Lead Contamination in The Past
Most of us are aware of the content of lead in old paint; in fact, lead-based paint has been banned from production since 1978. During the 1970’s, the BLL (blood lead levels) in American children and adults were at an all-time high. Neurodevelopment was being hindered in fetuses and toddlers; adults were experiencing a higher risk of colds and influenza, as well as motor nerve dysfunction, renal failure, gout, hypertension, and early mortality. Reproductive health was put at risk in both women and men, and pregnant or lactating mothers faced harmful exposure that would continually affect them and their children for more years to come (lead remains stored in bone mass for decades!).
All of these negative reports on lead finally resulted in a crackdown in the manufacturing industry; new laws regulated the amounts of lead used in thousands of products, and we have seen the statistics of BLLs drop significantly. But we’re not entirely out of danger. Studies show that the average BLL found among Americans is still high enough to increase the chances of a heart attack or stroke; this sneaky odorless and tasteless toxin is still having its effect in society.
Lead Contamination Is Still A Thing?!
So where is this darn lead still coming from? The answers to these unnerving statistics are still being studied out, but at least one source is somewhat obvious; our water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted an article written by Mary Jean Brown, ScD and Stephen Margolis, PhD; it states, “A nationwide survey conducted in 1990 indicated that 3.3 million lead service lines were in use, and the areas where they were most likely to be used were, again, the midwestern and northeastern regions of the United States. This survey also estimated that approximately 61,000 lead service lines had been removed through voluntary programs during the previous 10 years.”
While there has been an ongoing effort to replace old lines with newer and safer materials, it is reasonable to concur that large numbers of water pipes, plumbing fixtures, and solder used in plumbing still contain lead, and are therefore a health hazard. Strangely enough, the levels of contaminants increase in lines that have been only partially replaced; no doubt the disruption of the old lead and its protective coating produces increased particulate in the pipes.
Although the EPA prefers water to be entirely free from lead (as no level of lead is safe), they allow up to 15 ppb of lead in municipal water systems. The sad fact is that it may be quite a while before our water can flow through safe channels before it comes gurgling out our faucets, washes our dishes, our bodies (makes you feel a little uneasy about breathing in that hot steamy shower…), and is drank by millions of people.
What You Can Do About Lead Contamination
So what can a homeowner do to protect themselves from lead contamination? One option is to set aside the anxiety of trying to immediately fix the entire nation, and instead focus on your own home or business. You may not be able to get the lead out of the city water mains, but you can keep it from coming out of your faucets!
In addition to confirming that your plumbing is lead-free, water softeners and reverse osmosis filtration systems are some of the best ways to eliminate harmful contaminants in your water and promote the safety and health of everyone in your home. Passaic Bergen Water Softening provides more than 58 years of experience in water softening and filtration systems, and guarantees the best prices, best service, and 100% satisfaction!
If you want to protect your family against the dangers of lead contamination and increase the over-all quality of your water, don’t hesitate to contact us today for a free water test or consultation.
