One common challenge, most often found in well aged homes or buildings is lead contaminants. According to the EPA, lead contamination is a result of corrosion from pipes and solder. When this problem was identified, HidroCare avoided the use of lead solder for water conditioning installations.
Two forms of treatment can be easily provided- Reverse Osmosis or distillation. Should you be concerned that you have a lead issue please contact HidroCare for further analysis. In the meantime, run your water for 30-60 seconds prior to personal use, particularly if the water has been standing in the plumbing system overnight. For more detailed information click on the article- "Homeowners Can Reduce Lead in Water."
Health Problems Associated With Lead Poisoning
- Learning Disorders
- Hypertension
- Behavioral Problems
- Hearing Loss
- Stunted Growth
- Premature Births
- Kidney Damage
- Stomach disorders
- Irritability
- Reading Disabilities
- Anemia
- Antisocial Behavior
- Mental Retardation
- Hyperactivity
The Silent Killer
You cannot see, smell or taste lead when it is dissolved in drinking water. Yet, public health officials say lead is the No. 1 environmental threat to children. The harmful effects from over exposure can be horrendous—ranging from subtle biochemical changes at low levels to severe neurological damage at moderate exposures and even death at extremely high concentrations.
Small children and fetuses are particularly susceptible to the harmful effect of lead because growing children absorb lead more readily from the materials they consume. The U.S. EPA estimates that lead in drinking water contributes an average of 10-20% of the total lead exposure in children. However, in infants whose main diet consists of liquids made with water (such as baby formula), this exposure level can rise to 40-60%! Adults absorb 35-50% of the lead they drink whereas the absorption rate for children is estimated at greater than 50%!
There is not any indication that lead has any beneficial biological effect in humans. On the other hand, there is ample evidence that it contributes to a wide variety of ailments in both children and adults. To quantify just how serious a problem lead poisoning can be, studies at the University and Harvard Medical School have shown that children’s blood lead level at age two is a strong indicator of their intelligence later in life. For every microgram of lead per deciliter of blood (ug/dl) at age two, there is a six-point reduction in IQ scores at age ten! As little as 8 years ago scientists were claiming that one in nine children under the age of six has enough lead in his/her blood to place them in what is considered the risky zone. Obviously, the hazard is much more serious than we thought.
Sources of Lead
The main sources of lead exposure in the environment are lead based paint, contaminated soil/air (from leaded gasoline) and water. Paint manufacturers removed most of the lead from paint in the 1950s. The federal government finally banned the use of lead-based paint in 1978 and phased out the use of lead in gasoline in the 1980’s.
Although these actions stopped new lead from entering the environment, they did nothing about the three million tons of old lead threat that cover the walls and ceiling of approximately 60 million American homes. In many cases, the hazard of removing the contaminated material and the possibility of breathing and ingesting fine paint dust is worse than leaving the lead-based paint on the walls.
The lead in paints and gasoline has been eliminated by federal regulations, and the government is now attacking the problem of lead in our water supplies. The solution is not as easy as it may seem at first because lead rarely occurs naturally in drinking water. Water leaving the municipal treatment plant may meet all the federal drinking water regulations for lead content. However, there is no assurance that when the water arrives at its final destination it will be acceptable.
Contamination usually happens somewhere along the water delivery system. There are four main sources of lead contamination in the home: (1) lead service lines, (2) lead connectors, (3) lead-soldered joints in copper plumbing, and (4) brass faucets and fixtures. How much lead actually gets into the water from each of these sources is dependent upon the properties of the water and the usage pattern. These factors include the corrosiveness of the water, the age of the plumbing, the amount of time the water stands in the pipes before being used, and the temperature of the water.
Both very old homes and very new homes constructed up to 1981, have greater potential for lead contaminated drinking water. Up until approximately 1930, it was common practice to use lead pipes in home construction in some parts of the country. Copper plumbing has replaced lead pipes since that time. However there are still thousands of lead “goose neck” service connections between the water main and the home water lines. This is especially the case in the older sections of many municipalities. The use of lead solder with copper pipes has been the primary mode of construction for decades. Most experts agree that lead solder is the major cause of lead contamination of household water in U.S. homes today.
As a home ages, the lead levels in the water decrease. This is due to two factors. First, mineral deposits can form a protective coating on the inside of pipes to prevent lead from leaching into the water. Second with newly installed plumbing in homes prior to 1981, the lead solder is fully exposed to the water and is in direct contact with the solder. As water leaches lead from the solder, there is less solder exposed and available for further leaching. After approximately five years, the pipes are either coated with a protective mineral deposit or the majority of the lead in the exposed solder has dissolved. In either case, lead levels in the water tend to decrease with age, except in very old homes with lead pipes.
Methods of Removal
The first question most homeowners ask is “How can I tell if I have too much lead in my water?” the only way to be sure is to have the water tested. Some state health department labs will do this type of testing and most cities have one or more private labs that do this type of analysis. Because of health concerns regarding lead poisoning, the EPA lowered their limit for lead in drinking water. The maximum contaminant level (MCL) was reduced from 50ppb (parts per billion) to15 ppb. If testing reveals significant amount of lead in the supply, the consumer has a number of options for treating their water.
Reverse Osmosis:
Very effective at removing lead along with a variety of other heavy metals and other inorganic contaminants. Reductions of 95% and greater are typical using RO. This is a preferred method since it removes other contaminants as well as lead. RO water is essentially “pure” and has almost no dissolved solids. Click Here for more information on R/O systems.
Ion Exchange
Several different ion-exchange resins have been used successfully to remove lead from water. The standard resins used in water softeners will remove significant amounts of lead even though they are not designed for this purpose.
Special Media Filters
Several proprietary media utilizing alumina and silica, or combined with activated carbon have been introduced in the last several years and have high capacities for lead removal. The filters must be changed at proper intervals and be certain that they meet NSF Standards 58 and 61 for drinking water systems.
Flushing
Technically, flushing the house lines is not a removal technique. However, it is mentioned so frequently a solution to lead contamination that it needs to be discussed. EPA now recommends that consumers run their taps for a few minutes before drawing a glass of water. This is especially important for the first water used in the morning, if water is stagnant and has had long periods of contact with solder in the pipes. Although it is generally a good idea, in some cases it can result in higher levels of lead in the drinking water. Also do not use hot water for drinking or cooking since the higher water temperatures will increase the solubility of lead. A point of use treatment system would be a much more efficient solution to the problem.
*Above information is from the Water Quality Research Council paper presented by Bruce Saaski, and Duane Nowlin, PhD
