How to Determine if There’s Lead in your Water (And What to Do if There Is)
Get Your Water Inspected
The plumbing specialists at our company will inspect your water for lead contamination. Exposure to lead within water can lead to lead poisoning.
Prolonged exposure to lead can cause lead poisoning, a dangerous health condition linked to delayed development in children, birth defects, abdominal and joint pain, insomnia, and memory loss. Lead can enter the body through the air, through contact with the skin, and through contaminated drinking water.
If your home was built before 1986, it most likely has lead piping. If your home was built after that year, you’re not necessarily in the clear – until 2014, lead could comprise up to 8 percent of a pipe’s construction and the pipe could still be labeled “lead free.” If you are concerned about the presence of lead in your home’s plumbing system, test your water’s lead level or have a plumber test it.
Testing your Home’s Water for Lead
Finding out how much lead is in your water is not difficult. Contact your municipal water supplier and ask for a copy of its most recent Consumer Confidence Report. You will be able to see which contaminants were found in the water and the levels at which they were present in the water. For lead, any amount over 15 parts per billion is not safe. You can also use a DIY screening kit to determine how much lead is present in your home’s water, which could be different from how much is in the municipal water supply because of the lead in your pipes.
How Lead in your Water can Harm You
Lead exposure can cause lead poisoning, which can be harmful to children and adults. Infants and young children are especially susceptible to the effects of lead poisoning, but it can affect an individual of any age. When pregnant women are exposed to lead, they can experience miscarriages and birth defects.
What to Do About Lead in your Home’s Water
In most cases, lead enters a water supply from pipes or well components. If there is lead in your water and you cannot have your plumbing system replaced or a filtration system installed right away, you can do the following to reduce your exposure to lead:
- Flush water from your faucets for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking the water or using it to cook;
- Do not over-boil water. This can leave you with highly concentrated lead levels after the water evaporates;
- Take cold water from the tap, rather than hot water. If you need hot water, warm your cold water by boiling or microwaving it; and
- Only use cookware that is certified as lead-free.
Contact Team Electric to Work with an Experienced Manalapan, New Jersey Plumber
If there is lead in your home’s water, you can eliminate it by working with an experienced plumber. Although you can and certainly should take steps to reduce your exposure to lead, installing a water filtration system is the best way to protect yourself and your family. Contact Team Electric Plumbing & Air today to set up your plumbing consultation with one of the experienced plumbers on our team.
