Each year lead poisoning kills 400,000 people in the United States. Additionally, it can lead to serious health issues including:
- Problems in the nervous system, particularly in children. These can lead to behavioral problems, developmental issues and lifelong learning disabilities. It can also lead to cognitive decline and memory issues in adults.
- Physical symptoms, including chronic conditions such as hypertension, gout, neuropathy and kidney damage. It can also lead to reproductive issues in women.
People can be exposed to lead from multiple sources, including paint, dust, soil, and water. Since we help you keep your water flowing smoothly and safely, we’ll focus on eliminating lead in water.
How Does Lead Get Into Your Water?
There are a few ways:
- Lead can enter your home from your municipal water system. This should not happen since the water should be treated with anti-corrosive substances to remove lead. But it does happen.
- Lead-free water from the municipal line can still become contaminated once in your home. There are three possible ways this can happen:
- Pipes in homes built before 1930.
- Copper pipes with lead solder in plumbing installed before 1985.
- Chrome-plated or brass ball valves and faucets.
- Not in your home, but your garden hose may contain lead. That lead can be transferred to your lawn or garden during watering and of course poses risks if drinking from it.
Note that the risk of lead in the water is higher if the water has low mineral content or high acidity.
So, What Can You Do?
If you are concerned that there is lead in your drinking water, you can do the following to eliminate it:
- Have the water tested by a certified lab or water authority to make sure there is no lead.in the water. If there is, contact your local municipality. Other homes on your block can have the same issue
- Have a plumber inspect your indoor plumbing and replace anything that is leaching lead. This includes:
- Lead pipes, especially in homes built before 1930.
- Copper pipes with lead solder in pipes installed before 1985.
- Any chrome-plated or brass ball valves and faucets.
While you are waiting for any problems to be fixed, here are some interim steps you can take to make the water safe.
- Do not use hot water straight from the tap to cook as hot water is more likely to contain lead. Use cold water that you can then boil.
- Before you use the cold water, let it run for two minutes for two minutes before drinking or preparing to boil. The same holds true in the bathroom when you brush your teeth.
- And even before that, install a point of use water filter and run the water through that. Use National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) filters that are marked with NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 on the package.
- Clean the aerators on your faucets every few months to prevent lead buildup.
Contact Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric to “Get the Lead Out” of Your Water
Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric’s licensed plumbers can check if there is lead in your water. If needed, they can replace the pipes, faucets or fixtures that are the source of lead, and can also install a point of use filter to eliminate lead in your water. Our customers have relied on us since 1928 (that’s 98 years!) for quality products, knowledgeable technicians, and superior service, including 24/7/365 emergency service. That is why we are the most trusted plumbing, sewer, heating and air conditioning, and electrical company in Chicago’s North Shore and Northwest suburbs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.