The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has released an explainer animation to help consumers understand where lead comes from, how it gets into water, and what households can do to keep their water lead safe.
Video transcript
You’ve probably heard about the hazards of lead paint in older homes—but did you know that there can also be a risk of lead in your drinking water? Lead is a bad thing, no matter where it comes from. In children, low levels of lead exposure have been linked to learning disabilities, behavior problems, and other issues.
To protect yourself and your family, you need to know where lead comes from, whether you’re at risk of lead exposure, and what you can do to keep lead out of your drinking water.
Some important things to know: when your drinking water leaves a treatment plant and travels through the water mains in your neighborhood, lead is rarely a concern. So how might lead get into the water in your home?
Lead can be present in pipes that connect some older homes to the water mains. These pipes are called service lines, and for homes built before 1986, some service lines were made of lead. In the past, lead was also used in certain plumbing materials and in solder within homes. When lead comes into contact with water, it can dissolve into the water or break off in tiny particles. That’s how lead can end up in your home’s drinking water.
So what can you do about it? If there’s no lead touching your water, there’s no risk. Find out if you have lead in your service line or plumbing—and whenever possible, get the lead out. A plumber can examine both the service line and other materials in your plumbing. Make sure any new fixtures are certified as lead-free.
Your utility may be able to help you find a contractor to remove and replace a lead service line. Usually, the ownership of service lines is split between the utility and the property owner, so ask your utility if it has assistance programs to help manage the expense.
In the meantime, there are steps you can take right away to protect your household. Always begin with cold water for drinking and cooking. When you haven’t used your water for several hours, flush out the pipes to remove any lead. You can do this by running cold water from the faucet, taking a shower, doing a load of laundry, or washing dishes. Consider capturing the extra water from the faucet and using it to water plants or flush the toilet.
Your utility may be able to provide more detailed guidance. You should also clean out your faucet aerators, as they can collect lead particles. You can even purchase a home filter certified to remove lead—just make sure it is properly maintained.
Contact your water utility for additional details or visit drink.org. You can also have your water tested by a certified lab to see if lead is present. Your water utility strives to provide safe and healthy water for your home. We all play a role in keeping it that way.
Together, let’s get the lead out.
This message is brought to you by the American Water Works Association.