We’ve all heard of the dangers of lead and the cautionary tales of lead-based paint but some sources of lead exposure are more obvious than others. For instance, lead pipes and plumbing fixtures can present lead dangers to you and your family through all your home’s water sources, like drinking water. Residents of St. Joseph, Missouri, are not immune to the hidden dangers of lead in drinking water but thankfully there are water treatment solutions that can filter your water and leave you with less worry for you and your family’s health. 

The Serious Health Problems Related to Drinking Water with High Levels of Lead

It should not come as a surprise that lead is dangerous. However, do you know just how dangerous it is? Lead is a neurotoxic metal and common water contaminant that can cause health problems in adults and children, as it is dangerous to the brain, nervous system, and blood. The main ways lead causes harm are through ingestion (swallowing), inhalation (breathing), or absorption through skin contact. The effects of lead poisoning depend on how much exposure you’ve had. If your home’s water source contains high levels of lead you could be exposed to lead through both ingestion and absorption multiple times a day. 

Lead exposure can result in learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and other health issues. Lead exposure can also affect pregnant women and their unborn children. Adults who have been exposed to high levels of lead may experience nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, muscle weakness, blurred vision; skin rashes, or hair loss. Lead is particularly dangerous for infants under 6 months of age because they absorb more lead than older children or adults do when they consume contaminated water from tap or bottle sources. Bottled water (even if it says “spring” or “mineral”) that has been bottled with municipal water supplies can have high concentrations of lead, additionally tap water and ice cubes made from tap water containing high levels of lead can both be dangerous. 

How Much Lead is Too Much in Your Water?

While no lead in your water is the optimal situation, that isn’t always the reasonable answer. There really isn’t a safe exposure level for lead in drinking water but for agencies and health standards, concessions are made for lower levels of lead. It’s important to know how much lead is too much. Lead levels in water are measured in parts per billion (ppb). To put ppb in perspective, One drop of ink in one of the largest tanker trucks used to haul gasoline would be an ink concentration of 1 ppb. The Lead and Copper Rule is an EPA regulation to control lead and copper in drinking water. In accordance with the EPA, the level for enforcement of lead in drinking water is 15 ppb. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) level for bottled water is 5 ppb. 

How Do I Know If My Water Has Lead in It?

Getting your drinking water tested is the best way to identify the levels of lead in your water. Culligan Water of St. Joseph offers free in-home water quality testing that helps households identify what contaminants are in their water, which contaminants are close to dangerous levels, and how these water issues can be solved with treatment systems.

Lead could come from your original home’s water source or from the pipes throughout your home. While the federal government banned the use of leaded pipe and solder in new plumbing systems in 1986, many pipe networks in older cities and homes predate the policy and have not been replaced. The EPA estimates there are still 6 to 10 million lead service lines across the country.

Lowering Your Risk of Lead in Drinking Water

In order to protect your family and yourself, taking steps to lower the risk of lead in your drinking water might need to be taken. A reverse osmosis system is one of the optimal ways households can remove unwanted contaminants from their drinking water. Reverse osmosis systems push water through a semipermeable membrane to allow water to pass through while stopping impurities and contaminants from moving through. In removing water contaminants, RO systems leave you with great-tasting water with no unpleasant smells. 

If you’re interested in getting your drinking water tested for lead or learning more about reverse osmosis systems, contact us today! Our water professionals can test your water for lead, in addition to many other contaminants, and offer realistic solutions in treating your water for its potential problems.