Even though plumbing materials do not contain lead anymore, this dangerous substance still finds its way into America’s drinking water. What’s worse, Americans still suffer from illness and death due to lead in their drinking water. Is it in your drinking water? Five Star Plumbing would be happy to inspect your plumbing system to confirm its safety. Here is more about lead and its dangers.
Lead in Water Supplies
The first question you might ask is how lead gets into drinking water supplies in the first place, and that answer involves plumbing systems that are decades olds. Many, many moons ago, plumbing was made from lead piping. At the time, nobody realized that lead would eventually corrode and leach into the water that flowed through the piping. In fact, anything build before 1986 might have lead piping.
It isn’t just plumbing systems on residential and commercial properties, however. Water municipalities also used lead piping for their sewage systems. As evidenced in Flint, MI, water crisis, the lead poisoning that made news headlines worldwide was caused by municipality piping and water sources. Plumbing faucets and fixtures can also contain lead, which is why this remains a concern.
Lead Poisoning
When exposed to lead, people can become temporarily or permanently ill. For those with weakened immune systems or who have been exposed to massive amounts of lead, death can occur. According to the EPA, you can have small amounts of lead in your drinking water without any effect. For those who have amounts above the EPA limits, the following side effects can occur:
- Children can suffer from anemia, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, low IQ and learning disabilities, hearing issues, and reduced growth.
- Women who are pregnant may suffer from premature birth, and the lead can affect their fetus’s growth.
- Adults with lead poisoning might develop cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, kidney failure, and reproductive issues.
- Anyone who has been exposed to too much lead can suffer from seizures and even death.
This is so scary and an important reason why you should have old plumbing systems and fixtures replaced. This ensures you do not have lead contamination from your plumbing. To check your municipalities’ water contaminant levels, check their reporting.
Call Five Star Plumbing in San Antonio, TX, for a full plumbing system inspection.
