Lead in Your Drinking Water -- What You Can Do About It

Lead in drinking water is serious health threat. Unfortunately, most lead water contamination comes from pipes inside peoples’ homes, which means that there is no way to remove lead at any centralized facility. The only way to remove lead from your drinking water is with a home water filter.

How does lead get into drinking water from your pipes? It can come from lead lined pipes, lead solder and from brass plumbing fixtures. All brass and chrome-plated brass pipes contain between 8% and 15% lead, and almost all solder used to weld pipes contains lead. According to EPA estimates, 98% of all homes in the US have plumbing fixtures which leach lead into the drinking water.

According to the US EPA, there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Most at risk are children. Lead poisoning, even at very low levels, has a very negative effect on children’s development, with results such as learning disabilities, behavioral problems, reduced IQ and reduced attention span. It can also interfere with red blood cell chemistry and hearing, and long term effects for both children and adults include stroke, kidney disease and cancer. If the lead poisoning is not detected and stopped very quickly, and then treated, the effects on children’s development can be irreversible.

Most people are aware of dangers of lead poisoning from lead paint, but lead water contamination may well be the greater danger. In fact, the EPA has stated that "Lead in drinking water is the #1 environmental health threat to children in the U.S."

The good news is that it is easy and inexpensive to remove the lead from your drinking water right in your own home. A quality water filter, whether one that operates at the tap, shower or a whole house filter, can quickly remove the lead from your water, and will remove other contaminants such as chlorine at the same time. Any filter is better than none, but a multi-stage filter rather than a simple pitcher or carafe style filter is recommended for best results. For a quick comparison of different top brands, check out the following independent website:
Water Filter Comparison

One of the most important actions you can take to protect your health and the health of your family is to have a quality home water filter. Give your body the clean, healthy water it needs and deserves!

This article is presented by author Ann Hession, owner of Great Water Now. Great Water Now is dedicated to providing quality information about water and health and promoting the use of home water filters for health and longevity.