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Actions You Can
Take To Reduce Lead In Drinking Water
EPA 810-F-93-001
June 1993
En Español
Flush Your Pipes Before Drinking
Anytime the water in a particular faucet has not been used for six hours
or longer, "flush" your cold-water pipes by running the water until it
becomes as cold as it will get. (This could take as little as five to
thirty seconds if there has been recent heavy water use such as showering
or toilet flushing. Otherwise, it could take two minutes or longer.) The
more time water has been sitting in your home's pipes, the more lead it
may contain.
Only Use Cold Water for Consumption
Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking, and especially
for making baby formula. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels
of lead.The two actions recommended above are very important to the health
of your family. They will probably be effective in reducing lead levels
because most of the lead in household water usually comes from the plumbing
in your house, not from the local water supply.
Have Your Water Tested
After you have taken the two precautions above for reducing the lead in
water used for drinking or cooking, have your water tested. The only way
to be sure of the amount of lead in your household water is to have it
tested by a competent laboratory. Your water supplier may be able to offer
information or assistance with testing. Testing is especially important
for apartment dwellers, because flushing may not be effective in high-rise
buildings with lead-soldered central piping.
For more details on the problem of lead in drinking water and
what you can do about it, read the questions and answers in the remainder
of this booklet. Your local or state department of health or environment
might be able to provide additional information.
Health Threats
From Lead |
Too much lead in the
human body can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous
system, and red blood cells.
You have the greatest risk, even with short term exposure, if:
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you are a young child, or -
you are pregnant. |
Sources of Lead
in Drinking Water |
Lead levels in your drinking
water are likely to be highest if:
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your home has faucets or fittings of brass which
contains some lead, or
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your home or water system has lead pipes, or
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your home has copper pipes with solder, and
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the house is less than five years old, or
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you have naturally soft water, or
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water often sits in the pipes for several hours.
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Where can I
get more information? |
First contact your county
or state department of health or environment for information on
local water quality.
For more general information on lead, there are now two toll-free
telephone services:
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Q: Why is lead a problem?
A: Although it has been used in numerous
consumer products, lead is a toxic metal now known to be harmful to human
health if inhaled or ingested. Important sources of lead exposure include:
ambient air, soil and dust (both inside and outside the home), food (which
can be contaminated by lead in the air or in food containers), and water
(from the corrosion of plumbing). On average, it is estimated that lead
in drinking water contributes between 10 and 20 percent of total lead
exposure in young children. Federal controls on lead in gasoline have
significantly reduced people's exposure to lead. The degree of harm depends
upon the level of exposure (from all sources). Known effects of exposure
to lead range from subtle biochemical changes at low levels of exposure,
to severe neurological and toxic effects or even death at extremely high
levels.
Q: Does lead affect everyone equally?
A: Young children, infants and fetuses appear
to be particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning. A dose of lead that would
have little effect on an adult can have a big effect on a small body.
Also, growing children will more rapidly adsorb any lead they consume.
A child's mental and physical development can be irreversibly stunted
by over-exposure to lead. In infants, whose diet consists of liquids made
with water - such as baby formula - lead in drinking water makes up an
even greater proportion of total lead exposure (40 to 60 percent).
Q: How could lead get into my drinking
water?
A: Typically, lead gets into your water
after the water leaves your local treatment plant or your well. That is,
the source of lead in your home's water is most likely pipe or solder
in your home's own plumbing. The most common cause is corrosion, a reaction
between the water and the lead pipes or solder. Dissolved oxygen, low
pH (acidity) and low mineral content in water are common causes of corrosion.
Q: Does my home's age make a difference?
A: Lead-contaminated drinking water is most
often a problem in houses that are either very old or very new. Up through
the early 1900's, it was common practice, in some areas of the country,
to use lead pipes for interior plumbing. Also, lead piping was often used
for the service connections that join residences to public water supplies.
(This practice ended only recently in some localities.) Plumbing installed
before 1930 is most likely to contain lead. Copper pipes have replaced
lead pipes in most residential plumbing. However, the use of lead solder
with copper pipes is widespread. Experts regard this lead solder as the
major cause of lead contamination of household water in U.S. homes today.
New brass faucets and fittings can also leach lead, even though they are
"lead-free." Scientific data indicate that the newer the home, the greater
the risk of lead contamination. Lead levels decrease as a building ages.
This is because, as time passes, mineral deposits form a coating on the
inside of the pipes (if the water is not corrosive). This coating insulates
the water from the solder. But, during the first five years (before the
coating forms) water is in direct contact with the lead. More likely than
not, water in buildings less than five years old has high levels of lead
contamination.
Q: How can I tell if my water contains
too much lead?
A: You should have your water tested for
lead. Testing costs between $20 and $100. Since you cannot see, taste,
or smell lead dissolved in water, testing is the only sure way of telling
whether or not there are harmful quantities of lead in your drinking water.
You should be particularly suspicious if your home has lead pipes (lead
is a dull gray metal that is soft enough to be easily scratched with a
house key), if you see signs of corrosion (frequent leaks, rust-colored
water, stained dishes or laundry, or if your non-plastic plumbing is less
than five years old. Your water supplier may have useful information,
including whether or not the service connector used in your home or area
is made of lead. Testing is especially important in high-rise buildings
where flushing might not work.
Q: How do I have my water tested?
A: Water samples from the tap will have
to be collected and sent to a qualified laboratory for analysis. Contact
your local water utility or your local health department for information
and assistance. In some instances, these authorities will test your tap
water for you, or they can refer you to a qualified laboratory. You may
find a qualified testing company under 'Laboratories" in the yellow pages
of your telephone directory. You should be sure that the lab you use has
been approved by your state or by EPA as being able to analyze drinking
water samples for lead contamination. To find out which labs are qualified,
contact your state or local department of the environment or health.
Q: What are the testing procedures?
A: Arrangements for sample collection will
vary. A few laboratories will send a trained technician to take the samples;
but in most cases, the lab will provide sample containers along with instructions
as to how you should draw your own tap-water samples. If you collect the
samples yourself, make sure you follow the lab's instructions exactly.
Otherwise, the results might not be reliable. Make sure that the laboratory
is following EPA's water sampling and analysis procedures. Be certain
to take a "first draw" and a "fully flushed" sample.
Two organizations can help you decide which type of filter is best for
you. NSF International
,
an independent testing agency, evaluates and certifies the performance
of filtering devices that remove lead from drinking water. Generally,
their seal of approval appears on the device and product packaging. The
Water Quality Association (WQA)
is an independent, not-for-profit organization that represents firms and
individuals who produce and sell equipment and services which improves
the quality of drinking water. WQA's water quality specialists can provide
advice on treatment units for specific uses at home or business.
For additional information regarding the certification program, contact
NSF at (877) 867-3435, or WQA at (630) 505-0161, ext. 270. You can purchase
bottled water for home and office consumption. (Bottled water sold in
interstate commerce is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Water that is bottled and sold within a state is under state regulation.
EPA does not regulate bottled water.) When repairing or installing new
plumbing in old homes, instruct, in writing, any plumber you hire to use
only lead-free materials. When building a new home, be sure lead-free
materials are used. Before you move into a newly built home, remove all
strainers from faucets and flush the water for at least 15 minutes to
remove loose solder or flux debris from the plumbing. Occasionally, check
the strainers and remove any later accumulation of loose material.
Q: What about lead in sources other
than drinking water?
A: As mentioned above, drinking water is
estimated to contribute only 10 to 20 percent of the total lead exposure
in young children. Ask your local health department or call EPA for more
information on other sources of exposure to lead. A few general precautions
can help prevent contact with lead in and around your home:
- Avoid removing paint in the home unless you are sure it contains
no lead. Lead paint should only be removed by someone who knows how
to protect you from lead paint dust. However, by washing floors, window
sills, carpets, upholstery and any objects children put in their mouths,
you can get rid of this source of lead.
- Make sure children wash their hands after playing outside in the dirt
or snow.
- Never store food in open cans, Keep it in glass plastic or stainless
steel containers. Use glazed pottery only for display if you don't know
whether it contains lead.
- If you work around lead, don't bring it home. Shower and change clothes
at work and wash your work clothes separately.
Q: Aren't there a lot of types of treatment
devices that would work?
A: There are many devices which are certified
for effective lead reduction, but devices that are not designed to remove
lead will not work. It is suggested that you follow the recommendations
below before purchasing any device:
- Avoid being misled by false claims and scare tactics. Be wary of
"free" water testing that is provided by the salesperson to determine
your water quality; many tests are inaccurate or misleading. Research
the reputation and legitimacy of the company or sales representative.
- Avoid signing contracts or binding agreements for "onetime offers"
or for those that place a lien on your home. Be very careful about giving
credit card information over the phone. Check into any offers that involve
prizes or sweepstakes winnings.
- As suggested above, verify the claims of manufacturers by contacting
the NSF International or the Water Quality Association.
Q: What is the government doing about
the problem of lead in household water?
A: There are two major governmental actions
to reduce your exposure to lead:
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Under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA set the
action level for lead in drinking water at 15 ppb. This means utilities
must ensure that water from the customer's tap does not exceed this
level in at least 90 percent of the homes sampled. If water from the
tap does exceed this limit, then the utility must take certain steps
to correct the problem. Utilities must also notify citizens of all
violations of the standard.
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In June 1986, President Reagan signed amendments to the Safe Drinking
Water Act. These amendments require the use of "lead-free" pipe, solder,
and flux in the installation or repair of any public water system,
or any plumbing in a residential or non-residential facility connected
to a public water system.
Under the provisions of these amendments, solders and flux will
be considered "lead-free" when they contain not more than 0.2 percent
lead. (In the past, solder normally contained about 50 percent lead.)
Pipes and fittings will be considered "lead-free" when they contain
not more than 8.0 percent lead.
These requirements went into effect in June 1986. The law gave state
governments until June 1988 to implement and enforce these new limitations.
Although the states have banned all use of lead materials in drinking
water systems, such bans do not eliminate lead contamination within
existing plumbing. Also, in enforcing the ban, some states have continued
to find illegally used lead solder in new plumbing installations.
While responsible plumbers always observe the ban, this suggests that
some plumbing installations or repairs using lead solder may be escaping
detection by the limited number of enforcement personnel. (flushed
sample will indicate the effectiveness of flushing the tap before
using the water.)
Q: How much lead is too much?
A: Federal standards initially limited the
amount of lead in water to 50 parts per billion (ppb). In light of new
health and exposure data, EPA has set an action level of 15 ppb. If tests
show that the level of lead in your household water is in the area of
15 ppb or higher, it is advisable - especially if there are young children
in the home - to reduce the lead level in your tap water as much as possible.
(EPA estimates that more than 40 million U.S. residents use water that
can contain lead in excess of 15 ppb.) Note: One ppb is equal to 1.0 microgram
per liter (µg/1) or 0.001 milligram per liter (mg/1).
Q: How can I reduce my exposure?
A: If your drinking water is contaminated
with lead - or until you find out for sure - there are several things
you can do to minimize your exposure. Two of these actions should be taken
right away by everyone who has, or suspects, a problem. The advisability
of other actions listed here will depend upon your particular circumstances.
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The first step is to refrain from consuming water that has been
in contact with your home's plumbing for more than six hours, such
as overnight or during your work day. Before using water for drinking
or cooking, "flush" the cold water faucet by allowing the
water to run until you can feel that the water has become as cold
as it will get. You must do this for each drinking water faucet-taking
a shower will not flush your kitchen tap. Buildings built prior to
about 1930 may have service connectors made of lead. Letting the water
run for an extra 15 seconds after it cools should also flush this
service connector. [2/26/04
NOTE: Longer flushing times may be needed to respond to local conditions.]
Flushing is important because the longer water is exposed to lead
pipes or lead solder, the greater the possible lead contamination.
(The water that comes out after flushing will not have been in extended
contact with lead pipes or solder.)
Once you have flushed a tap, you might fill one or more bottles
with water and put them in the refrigerator for later use that day.
(The water that was flushed - usually one to two gallons - can be
used for non-consumption purposes such as washing dishes or clothes;
it needn't be wasted.)
Note: Flushing may prove ineffective in high-rise buildings that
have large-diameter supply pipes joined with lead solder.
- The second step is to never cook with or consume water from the hot-water
tap. Hot water dissolves more lead more quickly than cold water. So,
do not use water taken from the hot tap for cooking or drinking, and
especially not for making baby formula. (If you need hot water, drawwater
from the cold tap and heat it on the stove.) Use only thoroughly flushed
water from the cold tap for any consumption.
Other Actions
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If you are served by a public water system contact your supplier
and ask whether or not the supply system contains lead piping, and
whether your water is corrosive. If either answer is yes, ask what
steps the supplier is taking to deal with the problem of lead contamination.
Drinking water can be treated at the plant to make it less corrosive.
(Treatment to reduce
corrosion will also save you and the water supplier money by reducing
damage to plumbing.) Water mains containing lead pipes can be replaced,
as well as those portions of lead service connections that are under
the jurisdiction of the supplier.
- If you own a well or another water source, you can treat the water
to make it less corrosive. Corrosion control devices for individual
households include calcite filters and other devices. Calcite filters
should be installed in the line between the water source and any lead
service connections or lead-soldered pipe. You might ask your health
or water department for assistance in finding these commercially, available
products.
- A number of cartridge type filtering devices are available. These
devices use various types of filtering media, including carbon, ion
exchange resins, activated alumina and other privately marketed products.
Unless they have been certified as described below, the effectiveness
of these devices to reduce lead exposure at the tap can vary greatly.
It is highly recommended that before purchasing a filter, you verify
the claim made by the vendor. If you have bought a filter, you should
replace the filter periodically as specified by the manufactuer. Failure
to do so may result in exposure to high lead levels.
Definitions |
Corrosion: A dissolving and
wearing away of metal caused by a chemcial reaction (in this case,
between water and metal pipes, or between two different metals).
First Draw: The water that immediately comes out when
a tap is first opened.
Flush: To open a cold-water tap to clear out all the
water which may have been sitting for a long time in the pipes.
In new homes, to flush a system means to send large valumes of
water gushing through the unused pipes to remove loose particles
of solder and flux. (Sometimes this is not done correctly or at
all).
Flux: A substance applied during soldering to facilitate
the flow of solder. Flux often contains lead and can, itself,
be a source of contamination.
Naturally soft water: Any water with low mineral content,
lacking the hardness minerals calcium and magnesium.
Public Water System: Any system that supplies water to
25 or more people or has 15 or more service connections (buildings
or customers).
Service Connector: The pipe that carries tap water
from the public water main to a building. In the past these were
often made of lead.
Soft water: Any water that is not "hard." Water is
considered to be hard when it contains a large amount of dissolved
minerals, such as salts containing calcium or magnesium. You may
be familiar with hard water that interferes with the lathering
action of soap.
Solder: A metallic compound used to seal joints in
plumbing. Until recently, most solder contained about 50 percent
lead. |
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