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LEAD IN SOLDER Even after a lead watermain has been replaced there can still be traces of lead found in your drinking water. If the house was built before the late 1980s the solder used for soldering copper pipes contained a fair bit of lead. My own home was built in 1965, new enough to have a copper watermain but old enough to contain lead in solder. Some argue that over time a film, coating the inside of copper plumbing pipes, will neutralize the solder so it cannot leach into the drinking water. Maybe so, but I use filtered water for personal use and cooking. LEAD IN BRASS FAUCETS Most faucets purchased prior to late 1990s were constructed of brass or chrome-plated brass, which contain up to 8 percent lead (the main metals in brass are copper and zinc). Water sitting for several hours or overnight in a brass faucet can leach lead from the brass faucet interior which may produce high lead levels in the first draw of drinking water. Due to recent regulations, most faucets purchased after approximately 1997 contain less lead than previously used thereby reducing the possible leaching of lead. TIP Look for faucets made of copper or other alloys which contain less than one quarter of one percent (0.25%) total lead content by weight. You can find this information about lead percentage by going online or by contacting the manufacturer. Some leading manufacturers label their products as "Low lead compliant" WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF LEAD ON HEALTH? It has been known for a long time that large amounts of lead can cause serious illness or even death. However, we now know that over a long period of time, exposure to even low levels of lead can effect the development of a child's brain and nervous system. Replacing a lead watermain could cost thousands of dollars but is a small price to pay if you can avoid any or several of the following health issues. - Symptoms associated with lead poisoning may include insomnia, irritability, poor attention span, loss of memory, headaches, stomach cramps - Damage to the brain and kidneys at very high doses.. - May impair male fertility. - Increase the chances of complications during pregnancy. - Affect brain and nervous system grows, especially effecting the fetus, infants and children under six years old. - Lead to shortened attention span, intellectual, and behavioral problems such as hypertension and reduced attention span in children. - Causes high blood pressure, reduces hemoglobin production necessary for oxygen transport SOBERING STATISTICS It is estimated by the U.S. EPA that lead in drinking water contributes to 560,000 cases of learning disorders in children and 680,000 cases of hypertension in adults each year in the U.S. alone. The agency has also documented that, in adult males, better control over lead in drinking water could prevent over 680,000 cases of hypertension, 650 strokes, 880 heart attacks, and 670 premature deaths from heart disease every year in America alone. SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS If you are pregnant and/or have a child under six years old: Install an end-of-tap water filter. Look for filters certified by the National Sanitation Foundation that have "NSF-53 for lead removal/reduction" on the label. For information on good filters, call 1-800-673-8010. - Hot water picks up more lead than cold, so don't use water from the hot tap for drinking, cooking or making baby formula. - Use a water filter or bottled water for drinking and making baby formula. - If you haven't used the water for a few hours let the tap run till it is very cold. This is necessary to flush out any lead that has settled in the supply line. - Use cold water for cooking and drinking to reduce the small amounts of lead that might be in your water from lead solder PERMANENT SOLUTIONS There is only one permanent solution to prevent lead poisoning. Replace the entire lead watermain from the road to your house, period. Check with your municipality if there is a Lead Water Service Replacement Program or if they provide low interest loans. In many cases the loan is transferred to the property owner’s tax roll with annual payments due on the final tax installment due dates. The loan, if approved, will only be paid to the property owner upon receipt of the invoices for the completed work, and the inspection of the completed work by City staff under the water service permit. REFERENCES - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) : Lead in Drinking Water - Health Canada: Minimizing Exposure to Lead from Drinking Water - Lead and Faucets, Q&A Massachusetts Water Resources Authority NOTE: These links are not automatically updated when changes are made to the government's websites. Please send me an e-mail if you have trouble accessing these sites and I will try to find the updated links.