Lead In Water

Lead is a common metal found throughout the environment in: lead-based paint, air, soil, household dust, food, certain types of pottery, porcelain & pewter and water. Lead can pose a significant risk to health. Lead accumulates in the body over the years and can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young children and pregnant women. Amounts of lead that won't hurt adults can slow down normal mental and physical development of growing bodies.

Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly increase a person's, total lead exposure, particularly in infants who drink baby formulas and concentrated juices that are mixed with water. The EPA estimates that drinking water can make up to 20% or more of a person's total exposure to lead.

Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers and lakes. Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of corrosion, or wearing away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and household plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass and chrome-plated brass faucets. In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted the lead content of pipes and other plumbing material to 8.0%.

When water stands motionless in the plumbing for several hours or more, lead may dissolve into the drinking water. This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning or later in the afternoon if the water has not been used all day, can contain fairly high levels of lead. Because lead in water is tasteless, colorless and odorless, the only way to determine the amount of lead in water is through chemical analysis. (Excerpts from the MDE booklet, The Lead & Copper Rule)

How To Collect A Water Sample For Lead Analysis

Water samples for lead & copper analysis are collected to determine the contribution of these metals from faucet fixtures, solder joints and household water pipes to tap water. Samples are collected after the water has sat motionless in the interior plumbing for at least a six hour period, but no more than 18 hours. Water of an acidic or corrosive nature will leach out metals during this period of time.

• A kitchen or bathroom cold-water faucet is to be used for sampling.
• Place the open bottle below the faucet and gently open the cold water tap.
• Fill the bottle to the shoulder (or the 1000 ml fill line, if one is present), tightly cap the bottle and turn the water off.
• Note any plumbing repairs or replacements since any previous sampling event.
• Drop sample off promptly to FVAL.

Steps To Reduce Exposure To Lead In Drinking Water

1. Flush your taps before using water for drinking or cooking, any time the water in a faucet has gone unused for more than 6 hours. Flushing the tap means running the cold water faucet for at least 30 seconds.
2. Don't cook with or drink water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve more lead more quickly than cold water. If you need hot water, draw water from the cold water tap and then heat it.

The steps described above will reduce the lead concentrations in your drinking water. However, if you are still concerned, you may wish to use bottled water for drinking and cooking.

Routine Water Testing Program

The Routine Water Testing Program at Fountain Valley Analytical Lab is an easy and inexpensive way of keeping track of your water quality.

Simply call: (410) 848-1014 or (410) 876-4554 or email us at cwm@fval.com for more information.

© 2005 Fountain Valley Laboratory, Inc.
Last update May 15, 2006