Lead in drinking water is a serious health concern. Even small amounts of lead can cause health problems, especially in young children. Understanding the signs of lead contamination can help identify potential risks before lead poisoning occurs.
What are the main sources of lead in water?
There are a few key ways that lead can enter drinking water supplies:
- Lead pipes – Homes built before 1986 often have lead service lines or interior plumbing made from lead. As water passes through these pipes, lead can leach into the water.
- Lead solder – Lead solder was commonly used to join copper pipes until it was banned in 1986. Lead from aging solder joints can leach into water.
- Brass fixtures – Faucets, valves, and other brass plumbing fixtures can contain some lead that can enter water, especially hot water.
- Lead service lines – Utility service lines made of lead that connect water mains to buildings can be a major source of lead contamination.
How does lead get into drinking water?
Lead rarely occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers and lakes. Instead, lead gets into tap water through contact with lead plumbing materials. Here are some key facts about how lead enters drinking water:
- Corrosion – Lead pipes and plumbing can corrode over time, causing lead to leach into water. Water characteristics like acidity and mineral content affect corrosion rates.
- Stagnation – When water sits in lead pipes or plumbing fixtures for several hours, lead can leach into the water. Stagnant water in the morning or after returning from work has the highest lead levels.
- Temperature – Hot water dissolves lead more readily than cold water. Any water used for drinking or cooking should always be flushed from the cold water tap.
- Disturbances – Actions like pipe repairs or replacing meters can shake loose lead scale that has built up and mix it into water.
What are the health effects of lead exposure?
Even small amounts of lead can cause health problems. Children under age 6 are especially vulnerable due to their developing brains and organ systems. Possible health effects include:
- Brain and nervous system damage
- Slowed growth and development
- Learning and behavior problems
- Hearing and speech problems
- Lower IQ and hyperactivity
- Kidney damage and increased blood pressure
- Fertility issues (in men and women)
The neurological and behavioral effects of lead are believed to be irreversible. Adults may experience increased risk of high blood pressure, kidney damage, and reproductive problems from lead exposure.
How much lead is dangerous?
There is no known safe level of lead exposure. Even very low blood lead levels well under 10 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL) have been associated with lost IQ points and other issues in children. Here are current health guidelines for lead:
- EPA action level for lead in water – 15 parts per billion (ppb)
- FDA bottled water standard – 5 ppb
- AAP recommended lead level – < 1 ppb
- CDC elevated childhood blood lead level – 5 μg/dL
While regulations provide critical guidelines, the best practice is to minimize lead exposure as much as possible, especially for pregnant women and children under 6 years old.
What are signs of lead in my water?
Lead contaminated water is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, so it does not produce any obvious warning signs on its own. However, there are a few clues that your water may have high lead levels:
- Older home or plumbing – Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead service lines, lead solder, or other lead sources.
- Brass plumbing fixtures – Faucets, valves, and other brass fixtures made before 2014 can leach some lead into water over time.
- Lead service lines – Gray, dull pipes connecting the water main to your home indicate lead service lines.
- Poor water quality – Discolored, cloudy or bad tasting water could signal corrosive water problems linked to higher lead levels.
How can I test for lead in my water?
The only way to confirm lead levels in your water is to have it tested. Here are a few key options for lead water testing:
- At-home lead test kits – Inexpensive kits test lead levels from a small water sample you collect yourself.
- EPA-certified lab – You can submit water samples to be tested by a certified lab for very accurate lead level readings.
- Public water testing – Many utilities are required to periodically test water for lead at household taps.
Be sure to follow all collection instructions carefully to get reliable results. Testing both filtered and unfiltered water from different faucets provides a more complete picture of potential lead exposure.
What are EPA guidelines for lead in water?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has guidelines to limit lead contamination and alert consumers about risks:
- Lead Action Level – 15 ppb in first draw samples from household taps
- Public Education – Water systems must inform customers if lead levels consistently exceed 15 ppb
- Corrosion Control – Treatment to reduce water corrosivity if lead levels persist above 15 ppb
- Lead Service Line Replacement – Requires gradual replacement of lead service lines if corrosion treatment insufficient
While the EPA’s Lead Action Level is 15 ppb, there is evidence that levels even below 5 ppb can harm children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends drinking water have no more than 1 ppb lead.
How can I reduce my exposure to lead in water?
If you have concerns about lead in your water, there are several steps you can take to reduce your exposure:
- Use cold water for drinking, cooking and preparing baby formula. Never use water from the hot water tap.
- Flush taps for 3-5 minutes if water has sat idle for more than 6 hours. Flush until water runs as cold as it will get.
- Clean faucet aerators regularly as they can accumulate lead particles.
- Consider using bottled or filtered water for drinking and cooking.
- Replace lead service lines, lead solder and brass fixtures containing lead.
- Run your water softener frequently to avoid lead release from pipe corrosion.
- Have your water tested for lead annually or any time lead hazards are disturbed.
Identifying and reducing lead exposures early is key to preventing lead’s irreversible health effects.
Are some demographics more vulnerable to lead exposure?
Lead affects everyone, but children and pregnant women are the most vulnerable:
- Pregnant women – Lead crosses the placenta affecting the developing baby and causing lower birth weight and premature birth.
- Infants – Consumption of baby formula mixed with lead-contaminated water increases infant lead levels.
- Children under 6 – Their developing brains and bodies readily absorb lead, causing long-term neurological damage.
- Low-income and minority children – Are disproportionately exposed to lead including from paint in older, poorly maintained homes.
Homes built prior to the 1986 lead ban are a key risk factor for these vulnerable groups when lead leaches from old plumbing into tap water.
Should I use a water filter to remove lead?
Water filters provide an important safeguard against lead exposure from contaminated water. Look for a filter certified to remove both lead and lead particulates such as:
- Reverse osmosis filters
- Distillation systems
- Activated carbon filters
- Ion exchange water softeners
- NSF/ANSI Standard 53 certified faucet-mount filters
Be sure to maintain and replace any filters as directed to sustain lead removal. Check with your state health department for filter recommendations and continue other precautions like flushing lines until lead hazards can be permanently removed.
Can boiling water remove lead?
Boiling water will not remove lead contamination. In fact, boiling can actually concentrate lead levels by slowly evaporating the water. Other steps you should take instead of boiling include:
- Use cold water for cooking and drinking, as hot water dissolves more lead.
- Flush pipes by running water for 3-5 minutes to clear lead from standing water.
- Use bottled water or install a lead-removing filter if lead levels are high.
- Fully replace lead service lines and plumbing over time to remove the source.
The safest approach is to remove lead at its source. But flushing pipes, avoiding hot water, and filtering water can reduce lead exposure from contaminated water immediately.
Should I have my children tested for lead?
Having your children tested for lead is advisable if:
- You have concerns about lead exposure from any source – water, paint, soil, etc.
- Your home has lead plumbing components that could leach lead into water.
- Your child seems to have developmental delays or other possible signs of lead exposure.
- You want documentation of your child’s baseline lead levels.
A simple blood lead test ordered by your pediatrician can detect even small elevations in your child’s blood lead level before concerning symptoms appear. Early identification of lead problems allows quicker intervention to reduce ongoing exposures.
Can lead affect my pregnancy?
Lead exposure during pregnancy can result in significant harm to both mother and baby. Possible effects include:
- Miscarriage
- Premature birth
- Low birth weight
- Brain damage to the fetus
- Delayed development
- Learning difficulties
High lead levels in pregnant women have also been linked to preeclampsia, reduced fertility, and adverse changes in immune function. Testing for lead is often part of prenatal lab work so exposures can be minimized during this critical developmental period.
Do water treatment chemicals reduce lead?
Water treatment additives can help control lead levels by reducing corrosion of plumbing materials. Common anti-corrosion chemicals include:
- Orthophosphates – Coat pipes to inhibit corrosion and lead leaching.
- Silicates – React with metal pipes to form an inert barrier.
- Adjustment of pH/alkalinity – Can optimize water properties to minimize corrosion.
However, full lead service line replacement is the only permanent solution. While anti-corrosion treatments help, they must be carefully monitored and maintained to sustain effects on lead levels.
What are the best water brands without lead?
When choosing bottled water, look for brands certified by NSF International which verifies the water meets strict standards for lead and other contaminants. Some lead-free bottled water brands include:
| Brand | Lead Level Certified By NSF |
|---|---|
| Fiji Water | Below detection limits |
| Evamor Water | Below detection limits |
| Smartwater | Below detection limits |
| Mountain Valley Springs | Below detection limits |
| Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water | Below detection limits |
The FDA limit for lead in bottled water is 5 ppb. Be sure to check certification labels and consumer reports to avoid brands with concerning lead test results.
Is lead in water worse for adults or children?
Lead affects both children and adults, but children under age 6 are at highest risk for health problems from lead exposure for several reasons:
- Absorption – Children absorb up to 5 times as much ingested lead into their bloodstream compared to adults.
- Development – Lead interferes with critical brain and biological development in fetuses, infants and young kids.
- Behavior – More prone to put lead-tainted objects in mouth due to hand-to-mouth behavior.
- Size – Smaller bodies amplify the effects of any absorbed lead.
Significant lead exposure early in life can lead to lifelong neurological deficits and lower IQ. While concerning at any age, these irreversible effects make children most vulnerable to lead from water or any other source.
Conclusion
Lead in drinking water poses a serious health risk due to its ability to cause permanent neurological damage, especially in babies and young children. Be proactive about testing your water, flushing your pipes, and potentially installing filters certified to remove lead until any sources can be fully replaced. Protecting your family from this toxic heavy metal starts with awareness of common signs that lead problems could exist.