Lead in your Drinking Water

Lead is a naturally occurring mineral. However, it RARELY is seen as a contaminant in drinking water from natural sources.  The vast majority of all issues regarding lead are because lead is used somewhere in the infrastructure of the water distribution system. Most often this is the plumbing and appliances in the building where the water is obtained.

There are four key dates or time frames in the evolution of the use of lead in drinking water systems.  They are as follows:

• 1920-1990.  Prior to 1920 it was common to have lead piping used in public water mains or the pipes leading from the mains to individual buildings. Beginning in 1920 scientists had sufficient knowledge to understand this practice may have public health concerns. However as recently as 1984 some city codes still allowed for use of lead pipes in water distribution systems.  It is important to investigate what the practice was in your community if you own a home built prior to 1990.  Additionally, one of the arguments against replacing lead pipes is that almost universally after a short time frame those pipes are lined with other minerals which reduce or eliminate the leaching of lead into the drinking water. 
• 1988.  Most plumbing installed prior to this date used solder in the joints which contained a significant amount of lead.  If your home was built in 1987 or before your drinking water may be contaminated with lead. 
• 1997.  Prior to this year, brass faucets contained 8% lead. Any water left standing in those faucet for a couple of hours or longer is likely to have sufficient lead levels to be a concern.
  
  That is one of the reasons that running the water briefly prior to drinking or cooking is a good idea.  Starting in 1998 the amount or lead was significantly reduced. The result of this change is a significantly reduction in lead in water, even the first draw. 
• January 4, 2014.  As of this date all faucets and similar plumbing fixtures must have no more than .25% lead content.  This level makes it even less likely that lead levels in drinking water will be higher than recommended. 

Lead consumption is considered a concern, but is of particular concern for children under 7 year of age. The EPA allowable level for public drinking water is. 0.015 mg/L, or in other terms 15 parts per billion (ppb).  there are generally no rules or regulations regarding private well water or even at your tap which is on a public water system. However, common practice is to ensure that individuals and particular young children do not consume water which has 15 ppb or more of lead.  Competent filtration companies can assist you in reducing the lead levels in your drinking water.  

Water Testing Suggestions

Most experts in private well water recommend annual testing of the water.  Recommended parameters to test for vary broadly depending on the source.  ETR Laboratories has seen sufficient number of cases where water changes over a years time that we believe annual testing should be done with Comprehensive Scan or Health Scan if at all possible.  Both of these scans include lead. 

For homes on a public water system where the home and the infrastructure have been in place since 1990 or before annual testing for lead is recommended . . . particularly if the are young children who live in or visit the home regularly.  Home built since early 2014 where it is known that the infrastructure going all the way back to the utility water treatment plant is relatively modern may not require this testing.  

If you home uses a private well for the water source the owner is responsible for the safety of the water. You can read here about recommendation for annual testing.  In addition to those guidelines ensure that what ever annual test you choose includes lead if the home was built prior to 1997. 

Hopefully this discuss of the issues of lead in drinking water is valuable. If you have additional questions, contact us at ETR Laboratories, Inc.  (800) 344-9977 or info@etrlabs.com.