When most people think of plumbing problems, they imagine clogged drains and leaky pipes. They rarely think about the health problems that can come from unclean plumbing. There are several minerals that can be found in drinking water. Many of these occur naturally and are relatively harmless. However, many of these substances leach into the water as it moves through a home’s pipes. Many of these substances have been linked to serious physical and emotional health problems, with the greatest offender being lead.
Dangers of Lead
Many of the plumbing pipes used in American homes built before the 1980s contained lead. Lead is a durable metal that seems to lend itself well to plumbing. It’s highly resistant to corrosion and pressure, and the smooth inner surface of lead pipes mean that water can flow through them easily. Unfortunately, lead is hazardous to one’s health. Lead is extremely toxic to humans and can affect all systems in the human body, including the central nervous system. In fact, lead is said to affect the brain in a manner not unlike drug and alcohol abuse. To make matters worse, lead poisoning can happen over time and cause permanent, irreversible health problems. Signs of lead exposure include a suppressed immune system, increased blood pressure, and confusion.
How does Lead Get into Our Drinking Water?
Most modern American homes have pipes that don’t contain lead, but the plumbing of older homes may still contain large amounts. As water moves through pipes, the oxygen dissolved in it combines with the metal in the pipe to form a metal oxide. Oxidized layers form on the inside of pipes over the years, leading to trace amounts of metal in drinking water. This is a serious problem for pipes made from lead, especially older pipes. Many cities in the United States still use 100 percent lead plumbing to deliver water into homes and businesses, but city officials have taken steps to neutralize the threat of lead poisoning posed by older pipes by adding lime and other orthophosphates to drinking water. These orthophosphates prevent trace amounts of lead from contaminating drinking water and make it safer to drink.
Avoid Lead Contamination in Your Home
If your home was built sometime after the early 1980s, chances are that your pipes are lead-free. If not, there are still steps you can take to minimize the risk of exposure. If you have lead pipes that can’t be removed, flush them out with cold water in the mornings before drinking any water. Modern water treatment systems can be installed in homes, and are effective in cutting down on oxidized layers within your pipes. Since lead contamination comes from this oxidization, anything that removes these layers will help keep you and your family safe. Most importantly, you should have your pipes looked over by a plumbing professional on a regular basis. A licensed plumber will be able to recognize problems long before they get out of hand. It’s always easier to fix a smaller problem than a larger one.
As with most health hazards in your home, the key to avoiding lead exposure and the other dangers of unclean plumbing is to be diligent in having your plumbing checked out on a regular basis. Contact a plumbing professional to perform maintenance on your pipes regularly. It just might keep you and your family safe and healthy.
