Lead in Water: Understanding the Risks in The Lehigh Valley
In an article published in November 2024, LehighValleyNews.com reported that Pennsylvania has a lead pipe problem: 689,000 of its service lines comprise lead, accounting for 7.5% of the commonwealth's service lines. Many of these lines supply water to the Lehigh Valley area.
You do not want lead in water, especially not in your drinking supply. Although a naturally occurring metal, it's a potent toxin that can accumulate in the body over time and harm humans and animals.
To that end, our team at Tim Beil Plumbing put together this guide discussing how this metal affects Lehigh Valley water safety. Read on to discover just how harmful it is and how plumbing solutions for lead can help.
The Harmful Effects of Lead in Water
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is a U.S. federal law that protects drinking water quality. It authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set minimum standards called maximum contaminant level goals (MCLGs). MCLGs are the levels at which drinking water contaminants don't cause or are unlikely to cause adverse health effects.
Then, in 1991, the U.S. EPA established the "Lead Copper Rule" (LCR), also known as the "1991 Rule." It set the MCLG for lead at zero. In other words, the agency determined that there is no safe level of exposure to lead.
Here's how dealing with lead in tap water issues impacts the health and safety of children, adults, older adults, and pregnant women.
Lead Effects on Children
According to the U.S. CDC, exposure to lead dust is the primary source of lead poisoning in children. However, lead-contaminated water also significantly increases their risk. The agency says children under six have higher risks of exposure because their bodies, which are undergoing rapid development, are more prone to absorbing this toxic heavy metal.
Even at low levels, lead in children can lead to:
Anemia
Growth impairments
Behavior and learning difficulties
Hyperactivity
Lower intelligence quotient (IQ)
Hearing problems
Seizures
Coma
In some cases, lead ingestion can be fatal, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Lead Effects on Adults and Older Adults
In adults, lead contamination risks and exposure can cause:
Cardiovascular effects, such as higher blood pressure levels and, ultimately, hypertension (high blood pressure)
Impaired kidney function
Reproductive problems
Due to prolonged exposure and higher blood lead levels, older adults are at a higher risk of developing lead-related health problems. According to a paper published in SpringerOpen, researchers have found associations between chronic heavy metal exposure (such as lead) and neurodegeneration. Neurodegenerative disorders are conditions in which the brain and spinal cord nerve cells stop working or die (e.g., Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease).
Lead Effects on Pregnant Women
Lead accumulates in the body over time and gets stored in the bones with calcium. In pregnant women, their bodies release calcium from their bones to help form their babies' bones. Unfortunately, this process also releases lead.
Lead in pregnant women can severely affect both the mother and their developing fetus, such as through:
Premature birth
Reduced fetal growth
Low birth weight
Damaged brain and nervous system
Miscarriage
How to Address Lead in Water
Considering how dangerous, even deadly, lead can be, knowing if this heavy metal and other water contaminants are in your tap water is crucial. By determining what could be affecting your drinking water, you can take prompt action to protect your and your entire family's health, safety, and well-being.
Here are the top strategies for addressing lead in the water you get in your Lehigh Valley, PA, home.
Get Your Water Tested
First, partner with a highly experienced and trustworthy Lehigh Valley plumber who can perform water testing. A water test can help establish the presence of various contaminants, such as:
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): Metals like lead and iron and minerals like calcium and magnesium
Chlorine: A chemical added to water that kills bacteria and makes it safer to drink
Hardness: The amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium
pH: The acidity or basicity of water
A plumbing expert can also help determine if you have a lead service line.
Invest in a Water Treatment System
A water treatment system provides safe drinking water solutions through rigorous filtration. However, please be aware that not all systems remove lead; only a few, such as reverse osmosis (RO) and activated carbon filters, can.
RO systems can also help with the following contaminants:
Bacteria
Chlorine
Chloramine
Copper
Nitrate
Arsenic
As for carbon filters, the best ones can remove lead and:
Iron
Arsenic
Coliform bacteria
Chemicals
Gas
Other physical impurities
Tim Beil Plumbing is an authorized independent dealer of Kinetico water treatment systems. We offer complete installation and replacement services for:
RO and carbon filtration systems
Water softeners
Saltless water treatment systems
Specialty filters for aeration and removal of chlorine and sulfur
Distillation
With our plumbing expertise and high-quality products, we can help you find the best solution to all your drinking water problems.
Replace Lead Pipes
If you're unsure if you have lead pipes at home, our highly experienced and knowledgeable team will find them for you. We can also inspect your plumbing system for components that may contain lead. In older houses, the following may contain this heavy metal:
Household plumbing fixtures like taps
Welding solder used for pipes
Pipe fittings
If we determine that your plumbing system has lead-containing components, we recommend replacing them. Replacement is the most definitive solution to protect you and your family from exposure to lead in your water supply.
Ready to Combat Lead in Water?
Please remember that there is no safe level of lead in water. Even at low levels, this heavy metal can cause numerous adverse health effects and impact everyone's health and safety, regardless of age.
If you suspect you have lead in your water or plumbing system, we highly encourage you to contact Tim Beil Plumbing. We offer free water testing to help you determine what's in your water. Then, we'll use our 50+ years of plumbing expertise, skills, and knowledge to recommend the best solutions so you and your family can enjoy safe drinking water.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and to request your free water test!
