lead in water

[stevenal]

With lead in water making the news lately, I decided to do some testing at home. With all new 2006 cpvc plumbing, I didn't expect to see much of a problem, but was concerned about the 2006 brass fixtures. Sure enough, the first draw off of a bathroom sink faucet exceeded the federal limit. It looks like the newer versions of the very same faucet models are built to stricter standards, so I'm starting to change them out one by one. Looking a bit further out, the camper water supply is my next concern. The camper has Quest plumbing and plastic faucets, so I should be in great shape. However, I generally fill the tank prior to leaving home from an outdoor faucet. Using the same logic as before, perhaps I can perform an exact swap. Looking at http://www.woodfordmfg.com/woodford/LowLeadLaw.html, I see the manufacturer has easily sidestepped the law by claiming they don't anticipate anyone using these faucets to supply water for human consumption. And not even a warning label on the new faucets to indicate this determination. So there you have it. Not only must we take our chances on the road with old pre- safe water drinking act equipment, the newest equipment may not be any better. I suggest we start informing the manufacturers how we use this stuff so they can adjust their anticipations. And in the meantime, let the water run awhile to flush out the lead before filling your tank or taking a drink when hooked up.

[westend]

stevenal wrote:
It's a private outfit. Found a list of certified labs on a state website. They can run all the tests you might want to do on domestic water. USPS handled the transport, and the results were obtained via email.

Testing kits are available from Amazon, but they appear to only detect the presence of lead, not the amount.

Thank you.

[stevenal]

It's a private outfit. Found a list of certified labs on a state website. They can run all the tests you might want to do on domestic water. USPS handled the transport, and the results were obtained via email.

Testing kits are available from Amazon, but they appear to only detect the presence of lead, not the amount.

[ernie1]

ktmrfs is right. Lead is more serious of a problem in the young because their cells are reproducing faster because they are maturing and therefore the effects of lead poisoning is more pronounced. Sure, these kids aren't dead but their IQ level has dropped amongst other potential problems. The argument that one has been consuming lead all their lives with no ill effects reminds of the cigarette smoking arguments that their uncles and fathers, mothers and so on have been smoking all their lives and they're still alive even though dad is impotent and mom has serious wrinkles.

[ktmrfs]

beemerphile1 wrote:
Do you have young children? Lead is only a critical concern for young children.

hardly. Lead is a concern and very dangerous for anyone. It cannot be celated out like many other heavy metals, it has harmful effects on the brain and nervous system throughout your life and the effects are cumulative regardless of when you are exposed to it.

While it's effects show up quickly and quite obvious in children the effects on adults is just as bad.

[SpeakEasy]

westend wrote:

stevenal wrote:
State certified testing lab.

So you are transporting samples to this lab? Is this lab a private company or is it a gov't agency? The reason I'm asking is that I'm clueless where I would bring a water sample to be tested.

Do you have a college nearby? I bet the chemistry department would be helpful. At the college I teach at our Chem Dept. runs a service-learning course in which the students go out into the community and test soil around people's homes as part of their learning experience.

-Speak

[westend]

stevenal wrote:
State certified testing lab.

So you are transporting samples to this lab? Is this lab a private company or is it a gov't agency? The reason I'm asking is that I'm clueless where I would bring a water sample to be tested.

[stevenal]

State certified testing lab.

[westend]

How are you measuring lead levels?

[stevenal]

wa8yxm wrote:

The best advice I have ever seen is to let the water run a bit before filling your glass., or rinse the glass first.

And now you know why.

If the lead source is the hose bib you're hooked up to, rinsing the glass will only move the contaminated water a bit down the hose.

[wa8yxm]

garyemunson wrote:
Remember, the first bit of water to come out of a faucet after sitting a while may test high for lead but just a few seconds of flushing the water standing in the fixture should provide water meeting the supplier's specs. I doubt water passing through a fixture picks up any testable level of lead contamination.

The best advice I have ever seen is to let the water run a bit before filling your glass., or rinse the glass first.

And now you know why.

[D_E_Bishop]

Horizon170 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
After all the years of drinking hot water from a rubber garden hose, eating/chewing on lead based paint growing up, wallowing in Red Lead paint in NAVY bilges along with the 30 yrs exposure to asbestos I doubt a little lead leaching from a brass fixture is going to cause ME an issues.

My Immune System was heavily assaulted and has survived.....:B

Don't forget the Mercury we poured into our palms and rubbed pennies in it to make them shinny, and biting lead split shot on fishing lines.:B

And holding all those lead BBs for our single shot Daisy BB Guns in our mouth.

And handling all those lead shot for reloading shot gun shells and making snake loads for my S&W K38.

[beemerphile1]

Do you have young children? Lead is only a critical concern for young children.

[fourthclassC]

Why not consider a PUR faucet mount filter. Removes lead and many other contaminants right at the point of use. Also has a quick disconnect feature (not all models) for easy removal during travel.
It is the perfect solution for RV's.

[JaxDad]

stevenal wrote:
With lead in water making the news lately, I decided to do some testing at home.

I suspect reading those news reports and then worrying over them will shorten your life FAR more than what comes out of your tap.

As my grandfather used to tell me, "You'll eat a peck or more of dirt before you die, don't sweat it.".