THERE’S WHAT IN OUR WATER?!

By Trishna Buch
Before you start reading this article I want you to grab
a pencil. Now see the tip of that pencil? I want you to
take it and just start chewing on it. What’s that, you
say? You aren’t going to put the pencil tip in your
mouth because it’s made of lead and lead is toxic?
Well, you’re right—lead is toxic. But, if you don’t want
to eat your pencil tip due to its lead content then…
why are you drinking your water? That has lead, too.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency,
lead is “a naturally occurring element found in small
amounts in the earth’s crust” that can be found in the
air, soil, water and our homes. Most of our lead exposure
comes from industrial facilities, leaded gasoline
and using lead-based paint, but it can also come into
our lives through the water we drink. But, the most
unnerving part is that, according to the EPA, the Safe
Drinking Water Act puts the maximum allowable lead
content at “a weighted average of 0.25 percent calculated
across the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings,
plumbing fittings and fixtures.” So this means
that you may not even be told that you run a risk of
your water containing led because the amount you
have may be deemed as “allowable.” Fortunately, the
EPA states that it has a goal of putting the level of
lead allowed in water at zero because of its harmful
effects.
It’s funny, isn’t it? We spend almost our entire lives
trying to be healthy and taking care of ourselves and
our bodies. We eat well, exercise, get good sleep and
do everything in moderation. Growing up, we were
told “drink your water, it’s good for you.” But now we
find out that it has this toxic substance in it. So how
can it be “good for us”?
Being that it is a toxic substance, it should come as
no surprise that exposure to lead has many harmful
effects to us. Drinktap.org says that, when exposed
to lead in high doses, it can cause immediate effects
and, when exposed over a long period, can cause
long term effects. Furthermore, the EPA states that
fetuses, infants and young children are more vulnerable
to the harmful effects of lead because “a dose
of lead that would
have little effect
on an adult can
have a significant
effect on a
child.” According
to the EPA,
exposure to lead
in children can
lead to: behavior
problems, learning
problems,
lower IQ, hyperactivity,
slower
growth, hearing
problems, anemia
and many
more problems.
And, in rare cases,
exposure could also lead to seizures, coma and
death. In the case of pregnant women, not only are
they exposed to lead through water, but also through
their bones—where lead can accumulate. The EPA
states that “during pregnancy, lead is released from
bones as maternal calcium and is used to help form
the bones of the fetus”, but the fetus can be exposed
to it if it “crosses the placental barrier” and that,
when exposed to it, the harm it causes can include
reduced growth (of the fetus) and possible premature
birth. Lastly, the harmful effects of lead in adults
can consist of: increased blood pressure, possible
hypertension, decreased kidney function and male
and female reproductive issues.
When I found out that my drinking water could have
lead in it, I had to find out how exactly it can get in
there. According to an article by mass.gov, lead can
show up in your water through your water source. As
stated by the article, “lead can leach into tap water
if the service that connects your home to the main
water line in the street is made of lead.” You can also
get lead in your water if “you have lead pipes in your
home” or “if you have lead solder on pipes or brass
furniture”—which is common to homes built before
1989. Furthermore, corrosion and water sitting in the
pipe for a long while before use can also lead to having
this substance in your water.
So how do you know if you have a lead-infested
service line? According to mass.gov, it’s actually
quite easy to tell. A lead-infested service line will normally
be soft and gray in color, and to identify them,
you or a plumber can take a key and scratch your
pipe. If you have a lead-infested service line, that
portion you scratch “will turn a bright silver color.”
But, when testing, mass.gov says to only use a key
as other sharp items—such as knives—could puncture
the pipe.
Once you have determined that you do have a
lead-infested service line, it’s time to replace it. In order
to replace this line, you must be in collaboration
with your water department because, according to
mass.gov, both you (the homeowner) and the water
department share ownership of the line. If you want
to have your line replaced you must contact your water
department, learn your options and consider the
cost. According to mass.gov, the “actual cost of the
service line replacement reflects several factors, including
the length of the service line, the technique
used to install the new service line, and where the
service line is located.” Mass.gov also states that it is
important to replace the entire line, rather than just a
portion, especially if you have a pregnant women or
an infant or a child in the home.
Other ways you can find out if you have lead in your
water is to receive a copy of the Consumer Confidence
Report—a water quality report that is prepared
yearly by community water systems—by contacting
your water utility. You can also test for lead in your
water by contacting your local or state water authority
and getting a list of certified laboratories which can
test for this substance.
Fortunately, there are ways that you can reduce
your lead exposure. The EPA suggests the following
steps to take: use cold water for drinking, cooking
and for baby formula, clean your faucet screen on
a regular basis, use a water filter that is “certified to
remove lead”, flush your pipes before you drink water
by “running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry
or doing the dishes” and—to learn more—contact
your water system.
If you would like more information on lead in water,
it’s effects and how you can protect yourself,
visit the following websites: www.epa.gov/groundwater-
and-drinking-water/basic-information-aboutlead-
drinking-water, www.mass.gov/service-details/
is-there-lead-in-my-tap-water, www.epa.gov/lead/
learn-about-lead and www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/
water.htm.