Plumbing East Bay - Lead in my Water - Guaranteed Plumbing Co. Danville, CA

How Does Lead Get Into My Water?

Lead enters the water (“leaches”) through contact with the plumbing.
Lead leaches into water through:
Corrosion* of

• Pipes
• Solder
• Fixtures and Faucets (brass)
• Fittings

The amount of lead in your water also depends on the types and amounts of minerals in the water, how long the water stays in the pipes, the amount of wear in the pipes, the water’s acidity and its temperature.
*Corrosion is a dissolving or wearing away of metal caused by a chemical reaction between water and your plumbing.

What should I do if I suspect that my water contains high lead levels?

If you want to know if your home’s drinking water contains unsafe levels of lead, have your water tested.
Testing is the only way to confirm if lead is present or absent.
Most water systems test for lead as a regular part of water monitoring. These tests give a system-wide picture and do not reflect conditions at a specific drinking water outlet.

Quick Tips to Reduce Your Family's Exposure to Lead

Use cold water for drinking or cooking. Never cook or mix infant formula using hot water from the tap.
Make it a practice to run the water at each tap before use.
Do not consume water that has sat in your home’s plumbing for more than six hours. First, make sure to run the water until you feel the temperature change before cooking, drinking, or brushing your teeth, unless otherwise instructed by your utility.
Some faucet and pitcher filters can remove lead from drinking water. If you use a filter, be sure you get one that is certified to remove lead by the NSF International.

source: http://water.epa.gov

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