How to Reduce Lead Contamination in Drinking Water InspectAPedia® -
What to do about lead in drinking water - Drinking water as a lead poisoning source
Health Effects of Lead Poisoning and Lead in Drinking Water
How to reduce lead levels in drinking water - Steps You Can Take in the Home to Reduce Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water
Free lead in water test kits offered by some cities in the U.S.
Who is responsible for water contaminates in private wells?
Questions & answers about how to get rid of lead contamination in drinkning water
How to reduce the levels of lead in drinking water: this article explains simple steps you
can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water; new EPA Standard for
lead and copper in drinking water, and requirements placed on community water
suppliers. Links to Lead Testing Services are also provided.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.
You can spot the lead water supply piping in our photo at left. The right-hand lead water pipe is thicker than the copper water pipe in left side of the photo, and you can see the lead pipe wipe joint as well. More photos of lead water supply (and drain) piping are at LEAD PIPES in BUILDINGS.
Just how serious is lead contamination in private or public water supplies? It depends in part on where you live. In June 2010 the New York Times, citing Reuters reported:
Health workers have set up emergency treatment centers in northern Nigeria for scores of children suffering from lead poisoning and are racing to contain contamination that has already killed more than 160 people.
High levels of lead have contaminated water supplies in at least six villages in Zamfara State, close to where residents were illegally mining for gold. More than 350 cases have been reported over the past few months, and 111 of the dead are children, many younger than 5.
The Dutch arm of Doctors Without Borders has brought in drugs to treat villagers found to have high levels of lead in their blood.
In the U.S. lead levels in public water supplies has been dropping since passage of the 1974-2004 Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, and public water supplies are much less likely to be a lead hazard source. But in-building sources of lead in water may remain.
In November 2010 the New York Times reported that in 2009 only 5.4% of samples had elevated lead, but in 2010 tests of 222 water samples found lead from 16-30 ppb in 14% of the samples. Although at these low levels the city did not consider the lead a clear health hazard, the city advised residents to run water for "at least 30 seconds" before drinking or cooking with it. A similar advisory was issued in 2005.
Watch out: the length of time needed to run water to flush out high-lead-level water that has been sitting in piping overnight depends on the total length of pipe between your tap and the street as well as use by other building occupants. If you run water at a tap until it is cold you have most likely successfully flushed the lines. This same principle applies to private residences.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various U.S. municipal water suppliers are concerned about lead in drinking water. As late as 1961 major cities such as New York were still installing lead water mains piping.
In 1992, as a result of legislation written in Congress (the U.S. Federal Safe Drinking Water Act), a new US EPA standard for lead and copper became effective. This standard is intended to help
communities around the nation reduce their exposure to lead/copper in drinking water, and there by, lower their exposure to lead/copper from all sources,
including air, lead based paint, soil and dust. Lead paint is the main source of lead poisoning; however, lead contamination from water can contribute 10 to
20 percent of a person's exposure.
In 1992, more than 60,000 public water suppliers throughout the U.S. tested various homes they served for lead/copper at household taps.
In-building sources of lead in water: Although water supplied from your water treatment plant may be free from lead or copper*, contamination from your piping system may cause lead/copper to
dissolve (leach) into your water supply if:
You have a lead service line connecting your home to the water main in the street; and/or
Your home has
lead water supply pipes; and/or
You have lead containing soldered joints in your copper supply pipes (installed from 1983-86); and/or
You have plumbing fixtures
containing lead.
In rare cases some lead leaching may take place from piping in the street if it is a low flow area, i.e.; dead end streets.
EPA Lead limit: Although most homes have very low levels of lead in their drinking water, some homes in some communities have lead levels
above the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), or 0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of water (mgL).
Under Federal Law water suppliers are required to have a program in place to minimize lead in drinking water by January 1, 1996. This program includes
corrosion control treatment, source water treatment, and public education. We are also required to replace each lead service line that we control if the line
contributes to lead concentrations of 15 ppb or more after we have completed the comprehensive treatment program. If you have any questions about how the
requirements of the lead regulations are being carried out, call your local water department or health department.
Health Effects of Lead Poisoning and Lead in Drinking Water
Lead is a common, natural, and often useful metal found throughout the environment in lead-based paint. air, soil, household
dust, food, certain types of pottery porcelain pewter, and water.
Lead can pose a significant risk to your health if too much of it enters your body. Lead builds up in the body over many years and can cause damage to
the brain, red blood cells, and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young children
and pregnant women. Amounts of lead that won't hurt adults can slow down normal mental and physical development of growing bodies. In addition, a child at play
often comes into contact with sources of lead contamination - like dirt and dust - that rarely affect an adult. It is important
to wash children's hands and toys often, and to try to make sure they only put food in their mouths.
Lead in Drinking Water as a source of lead poisoning
Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly
increase a person's total lead exposure, particularly the exposure of infants who drink baby formulas and concentrated juices that are mixed with water. The
EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more of a person's total exposure to lead.
Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers and lakes. Lead enters drinking
water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and household plumbing. These
materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass and chrome plated brass faucets, and in some cases, pipes made of lead that connect your
house to the water main (service lines).
In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder containing greater than 0.2% lead and restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes; and other plumbing
materials to 8.0%.
When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may dissolve into your drinking water. This
means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning or later in the afternoon after returning from work or school can contain fairly high levels of
lead.
Steps You Can Take in the Home to Reduce Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water
Who is Responsible for Making Drinking Water Safe?
The answer depends on the answer to "Is My Water Supply Public (regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act) or Private (responsibility of the homeowner)?"
Definition of a public water system (PWSs): a public water supply system, or "community water supply" or "municipal water supply" is one that has at least 15 service connections or serves at least 25 people per day for 60 days (or more) during the year. Any such system is defined as a "community water system" or in our words, a public water supply and is regulated by federal law. The community government, typically its water department and health departments are responsible for compliance with federal law regulating safe drinking water, including both regular testing and if necessary, treatment of the water supply. The type of water treatment required depends on the water source and water quality.
Occupants of homes served by municipal water supply in the U.S. are receiving water that is required by law to be regular tested for a number of contaminants, including lead. But even if the supplied water and its delivery system are acceptable, in-building piping can be a source of lead contamination, especially for buildings whose piping contain lead or lead solder.
Some cities such as New York City include phosphoric acid to the water supply to help form an oxide coating inside piping to reduce the rate of lead flowing through piping. But water sitting in piping during times of little or no use may still absorb some lead if it's present in the system.
Definition of a non-community or private water system: a private water supply system is smaller in size than the definition above, or serves people for less than 60 days per year. The owners of a private water supply system are responsible for assuring that the water provided by that system is safe to drink. While private water supply systems may not be regulated by federal law, local village, town, state, or county health departments and regulations may indeed apply and may set standards for acceptable drinking water for private wells in their community.
Non-Transient Non-Community Water System (there are approximately 20,000) - A noncommunity water system that serves the same people more than six months per year, but not year-round, for example, a school with its own water supply is considered a non-transient system.
Transient non-community water system (there are approximately 89,000) - A non-community water system that serves the public but not the same individuals for more than six months, for example, a rest area or campground may be considered a transient water system.
Owners of private wells (serving less than 15 connections or 25 people) are responsible for assuring that their well water is safe. The EPA Recommends (Drinking Water Standards):
People with private wells are responsible f or making sure that their own drinking water is safe. Some states do set standards for private w ells, so well owners should c heck their state requirements. U S EPA recommends testing your water once per year to see if it meets federal and state standards. Call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-
4791 or see the US EPA Safewater home page at www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells to find out how to get a list of certified testing labs in your state.
List of Steps to Take to Reduce Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water
Test your water supply: Despite our [the local municipal water authority] best efforts mentioned earlier to control water corrosivity and remove lead from the
water supply, lead levels in some homes or buildings can be high. To find out whether you need to take action in your own home, have your drinking water
tested to determine if it contains excessive concentrations of lead. Testing the water is essential because you cannot see, taste, or smell lead in drinking
water.
Some local water test laboratories that can provide this information. For more information on having your water tested,
please call your health department or water department. Some cities may offer free lead tests. New York City residents can take advantage of a free lead-in-water test kit. See http://nyc.gov/html/dep/html/drinking_water/lead_test_kit.shtml or in New York Cit call 311 to ask for a free lead testing kit.
Lead in water action level: If a water test indicates that the drinking water drawn from a tap in your home contains lead above 15 ppb, then you should take the following
precautions:
Flush in-building water supply pipes: Let the water run from the tap before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in a faucet has gone unused for more than six hours. The
longer water resides in your home's plumbing the more lead it may contain. Flushing the tap means running the cold water faucet
until the water gets noticeably colder, usually about 15-30 seconds.
If your house has a lead service line to the water main, you may have to flush the water for a longer time, perhaps one minute before drinking. Although
toilet flushing or showering flushes water through a portion of your home's plumbing system, you still need to flush the water in each faucet before using
it for drinking or cooking.
Flushing tap water is a simple and inexpensive measure you can take to protect your family's health. It usually
uses less than one or two gallons of water and costs less than .42 cents per month. To conserve water, fill a couple of bottles for drinking water after
flushing the tap, and whenever possible use the first-flush water to wash the dishes or water the plants.
If you live in a high-rise building, letting the water flow before using it may not work to lessen your risk from lead. The plumbing systems have more and
sometimes larger pipes than smaller buildings. Ask your landlord for help in locating the source of the lead and for advice on reducing the lead level.
Use cold-water tap for cooking water: Try not to cook with or drink water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve more lead more quickly than cold water. If you need hot water,
draw water from the cold tap and heat it on the stove.
Remove loose lead solder and debris from the plumbing materials installed in newly constructed homes or homes in which the plumbing has
recently been replaced by removing the faucet strainers from all taps and running the water for 3 to 5 minutes. thereafter,
periodically remove the strainers arid flush out any debris that has accumulated over time.
Check for legal plumbing work: If your copper pipes are joined with lead solder that has been installed illegally since it was banned in 1986, notify
the plumber who did the work and request that he or she replace the lead solder
with lead-free solder. Lead solder looks dull gray, and when scratched with a key looks shiny. In addition, notify your health department about the
violation.
Check type of piping used to connect to water main: Determine whether or not the service line that connects your home or
apartment to the water line is made of lead. The best way to determine if your service line is made of lead is by either hiring
a licensed plumber, or a private home inspector or building inspector to inspect the line or by contacting the plumbing contractor
who installed the line.
You can identify the plumbing contractor by checking the city's record of building permits, which should he maintained in the files of the City of
Poughkeepsie Building Department. A licensed plumber can at the same time check
to see if your home's plumbing contains lead solder, lead pipes, or pipe
fittings that contain lead.
The public water system that delivers water to your home should also maintain records of the materials located in the
distribution system.
If the service line that connects your dwelling to the water main contributes more than 15 ppb to drinking water,
after the (possibly) required comprehensive treatment program is in place, the municipality is required to replace the
line.
If the line is only partially controlled by the municipality, they are required to provide you with information on how
to replace your portion of the service line, and offer to replace that portion of the line at your expense and take a
follow-up tap water sample within 14 days of the replacement. Acceptable replacement alternatives include copper,
steel, iron, and plastic pipes.
Check electrical wiring & grounding: Have an electrician check your wiring. If grounded wires from the electrical system are attached to your pipes,
corrosion may be greater. Check with a licensed electrician or your local electrical code to determine if your wiring
can be grounded elsewhere. DO NOT attempt to change the wiring yourself, because improper grounding can cause electrical
shock and fire hazards.
Check lead level after taking steps above: The steps described above will reduce the lead concentrations in your drinking water. However, if a
water test indicates that the drinking water coming from your tap contains lead concentration in excess of 15 ppb after
flushing or after we have completed our actions to minimize lead levels, then you may want to take the following
additional measures:
Purchase or lease a home water treatment device. Home treatment devices are limited in that each unit treats only the
water that flows from the faucet to which it is connected, and all of the devices require periodic maintenance and
replacement. Devices such as reverse osmosis systems or distillers can effectively remove lead from your drinking water.
Some activated carbon filters may reduce lead levels at the tap, however, all lead reduction claims should he
investigated. Be sure to check the actual performance of a specific home treatment device before and after installing
the unit.
Purchase bottled water for drinking and cooking.
More local information on lead in water: You can consult a variety of sources for additional information. Your family doctor or
pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide you with information about the
health effects of lead. State and local government agencies that can be contacted include:
Your municipal water treatment plant operator, health department, or water department can provide you with
information about your community's water supply and a list of local laboratories that have been certified by
EPA for testing water quality.
Your municipal building department can provide you with information about building permit records that should
contain the names of plumbing contractors that plumbed your home.
Your local health department can provide you with information about the health effects of lead and how you can
have your child's blood tested.
Readers of this article should see LEAD WATER PIPING for general information about lead water and drain piping in buildings.
Questions & Answers regarding this article
Questions & answers about how to get rid of lead contamination in drinkning water..
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Dutchess County New York, Health Department: an original source whose contents were paraphrased, adapted, and expanded for this article include public information document provided by the City of Poughkeepsie New York (Dutchess County) to residents served by city water supply system, December 1995.
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), U.S. EPA, web search 11/7/2010, original source: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/index.cfm
Understanding the Safe Drinking Water Act, U.S. EPA, EPA 816-F-04-030 June 2004, web search 11/7/2010, original source: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/sdwa/upload/
2009_08_28_sdwa_fs_30ann_sdwa_web.pdf
Drinking Water Standards & Health Effects, U.S. EPA, web search 11/7/2010, original source:
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/sdwa/upload/
2009_08_28_sdwa_fs_30ann_standards_web.pdf
Drinking Water Treatment, U.S. EPA, web search 11/7/2010, original source:
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/sdwa/upload/
2009_08_28_sdwa_fs_30ann_treatment_web.pdf [Warning: this file is difficult or impossible to download from the EPA website - 11/2010]
Lead Hazards in Buildings, Dust, Paint, Water: General Advice, Testing Procedures, Illnesses with additional links and resource references for Lead Hazards
"The voluntary standard established in the United States under ASTM F-963 and the European standard under EN-71 for soluble lead in toys (lead which may migrate from the toy and be ingested by the child) is 90 parts-per-million. At that level, any intentional use of lead in paints or other surface coatings containing lead would immediately put the toy over the permitted limit."
"Under federal law, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) enforces a standard for total lead of 600 ppm. Recently, the CPSC refused to lower the lead limit in paint and other similar surface coating materials to 100 ppm after finding that most paints sold in the United States were already at or below that level and, therefore, these materials did not present an unreasonable risk of injury warranting further government regulation."
Lead Hazards in Buildings, Dust, Paint, Water: General Advice, Testing Procedures, Illnesses with additional links and resource references for Lead Hazards
Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipment
Access Water Energy, PO Box 2061, Moorabbin, VIC 3189, Australia, Tel: 1300 797 758, email: sales@accesswater.com.au Moorabbin Office: Kingston Trade Centre, 100 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, VIC 3189
Australian supplier of: Greywater systems, Solar power to grid packages, Edwards solar systems, Vulcan compact solar systems, water & solar system pumps & controls, and a wide rage of above ground & under ground water storage tanks: concrete, steel, plastic, modular, and bladder storage tanks.
Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid
Smart Tank, Installation Instructions, Flexcon Industries, 300 Pond St., Randolph MA 02368, www.flexconind.com, Tel: 800-527-0030 - web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www.flexconind.com/pdf/st_install.pdf [Copy on file as /water/Smart_Tank_Flexcon.pdf ] -
Typical Shallow Well One Line Jet Pump Installation, Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf, [Copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect_Jet_Pumps_1.pdf ] -
Typical Deep Well Two Line Jet Pump Installation, Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf, [Copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect.pdf ] -
Cooperative Extension, School of Forest Resources, web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0002.pdf
Water pressure tanks - how to diagnose the need for air, how to add air, stop water pump short cycling to avoid damage - water storage water pressure tank safety.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
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The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
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