Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women. The EPA's website contains more information about lead and it's effect on health.
Sources of Lead
Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Drinking water is one possible source of lead exposure. The main sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust or soil, and some plumbing materials. In addition, lead can be found in certain types of pottery, pewter, brass fixtures, food, and cosmetics.
New brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as “lead-free,” may contribute lead to drinking water. The law currently allows end-use brass fixtures, such as faucets, with up to 8 percent lead to be labeled as “lead free.” However, plumbing fixtures labeled National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certified may only have up to 2 percent lead. Consumers should be aware of this when choosing fixtures and take appropriate precautions. Visit the National Sanitation Foundation Web site at www.nsf.org to learn more about lead-containing plumbing fixtures. The EPA's guide for How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System & Plumbing Products also provides helpful information.
The City of Watertown has no records of lead service lines within its distribution system, although some homes may have lead connections or goose necks which can be replaced free of charge. Please contact the Water Department at 315-785-7757 to see if your home qualifies for replacement. The source of lead is typically from the interior plumbing of the residences that were plumbed with copper pipes and lead solder joints. When water is allowed to dwell in these pipes for long periods lead and copper will leach into the water. The City of Watertown adds a corrosion inhibitor, sodium silicate, that forms a protective barrier to prevent the leaching of lead and copper from the pipes. This protective barrier can become eroded when water is allowed to remain stagnant within pipes for extensive periods of time thus not allowing the replenishment of the inhibitor. The decay of the protective barrier will result in elevated lead and copper samples. This is why it is important to remember to run you water for a couple of minutes prior to consuming, especially when the water has not been used for long periods of time.
Steps You Can Take To Reduce Your Exposure To Lead In Your Water
1. Run your cold water to flush out lead. Run water for 30 seconds or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking.
2. Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Never cook with or drink water from the hot water tap as lead dissolves more easily into hot water.
3. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
4. You may want to consider installing a water filter. Read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead or Visit the National Sanitation Foundation Web at www.nsf.org for information on performance standards for water filters. Be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality.
5. Test your water for lead. The City has an established list of homes that are tested for lead every three years. If your residence is not a sample site, you may contact an independent laboratory about having your home tested for lead. The New York State Department of Health offers a free lead testing pilot program, for more information click here.
6. Get your child tested. Contact Jefferson County Public Health or your healthcare provider to find out how you can get your child tested for lead if you are concerned about exposure.
7. Identify if your home contains lead pipes or plumbing fixtures. The Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative and NPR have online guides to help identify lead lines. The EPA's guide for How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System & Plumbing Products also provides helpful information,or call the Water Department at 315-785-7757 for assistance.
