The Presence of Lead in Drinking Water Poses Significant Health Risks.
Lead in water is extremely harmful to a person’s health. Since lead is tasteless and odorless, it may go undetected in water systems and may bioaccumulate in a person’s body over extended periods. The EPA has set the maximum contaminant level (MCLG) at zero. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) considers lead-free content to be calculated as an average of 0.25 percent for pipes and plumbing fittings. For solder and flux, the average is 0.2 percent. The skin cannot absorb lead; therefore, showering in water with high lead content is not considered unsafe.
Children, infants, and fetuses are highly susceptible to this toxin, even at low exposure levels. Learning disabilities, short stature, impaired hearing, impaired blood cell function (anemia), and nervous system damage (peripheral and central) are long term effects of lead exposure in children. Seizures, coma, and death can occur in more severe cases. Cardiovascular problems, hypertension, kidney dysfunction, and reproductive issues are long term complications of exposure in adults. In pregnant women, lead may be released from the mother’s bones as calcium where it crosses the fetus to aid in bone formation. This is more common among pregnant women who are calcium deficient. Reduced growth to the fetus and premature birth may occur post-exposure. If exposure to lead is suspected, blood tests should be conducted in order for proper follow up procedures to be taken since lead exposure often presents no initial symptoms.
Lead enters drinking water when lead based materials–pipes, faucets, and fixtures–start to corrode. This corrosion occurs from a chemical reaction between metal and water with high acidity or low mineral levels. Homes built before 1986 often contain lead pipes and lead service lines. Other factors that contribute to lead’s presence in water: temperature of the water, the amount of lead in the pipes’ construction, and the length of time that water stays in pipes. Also, the plumbing may contain protective scales/coatings.
Ways to Reduce Lead Exposure in Drinking Water
- Use cold, bottled water since boiling is ineffective in removing lead particles.
- Clean the faucet’s aerator.
- Use a water filter.
- Flush the pipes before drinking, cooking, or washing dishes
- Make sure that the water that comes from the tap runs cold, not warm or hot.
- Have the water tested for lead.
At Passaic Bergen Water Softening, we offer free in-house water tests for both residential and commercial properties. Our business has been in operation for over 50 years. The company’s technicians possess years of experience in water testing and selection, installation, and maintenance of water systems. We specialize in service and installation of reverse osmosis filters for homes and offices. These filters can remove impurities and harmful contaminants (mercury, nitrates, chromium, and lead). This can reduce illness and complications from excess lead in the water. In addition, we provide services for hard water correction. The water softening system helps to reduce metals and hard ions present in the water, leaving customers with cleaner water for drinking, cooking, and washing clothes.
Since customer satisfaction is our priority, we educate the public by diagnosing water issues with integrity and accuracy. It is our company’s mission to ensure that customers purchase equipment based on their individualized need. We offer several other specific water treatment products: GE, DWC, Charger, AvantaPure, Fleck, Clack, and Autotrol. However, our services are affordable, and we encourage customers to contact us before making decisions regarding equipment and installations. We offer under-sink units to whole-building filtration systems, while supplying customers with replacement filters/cartridges. Tanks, components, and warranties on the equipment parts are also included in the installation. For more information or questions about our services, feel free to contact us.
