Whether you live in a newly built house or a heritage property, your home should be convenient and contaminate-free. Complex plumbing systems bring clean water indoors, but do you really know what is in your water? For homeowners with older plumbing systems, what you might think is safe drinking water might be contaminated with lead.
There is no safe level of lead in drinking water, but many homes in British Columbia still have lead somewhere in their plumbing. Outdated plumbing systems are a dime a dozen in BC. For homes built before 1989, it’s common to find lead pipes or lead soldering in household plumbing systems and water service lines (water mains).
Exposure to lead, unlike other contaminants, does not result in instant illness. There is no safe amount of lead, as it accumulates in the body over time. The experienced plumbers at Pete & Son Plumbing can offer insight into potential problem areas, including the possibility of lead service lines, and can replace lead parts and materials where feasible.
The Consequences of Lead Pipes
The condition of local water supplies is a matter of public health. Lead exposure is a building issue that will present more frequent and more serious health issues over time. This hazardous material is dangerous for everyone, but especially for children and pregnant women.
Exposure to lead is so dangerous that its use as construction material was banned federally in 1975. The trouble is that it took individual provinces longer to catch up. In British Columbia, lead pipes were still being used regularly up until 1980. The 1989 BC Plumbing Code restricted the use of lead solder in new plumbing and repairs for water utilities.
Any time that water sits against lead, there are harmful chemicals leaching in. Drinking contaminated water means ingesting those chemicals. Harmful properties enter the bloodstream and damage the brain, kidneys and impact the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.
Some of the issues commonly associated with lead exposure include:
- Cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure
- Decreased kidney function
- Increased blood pressure
- Anemia
- Nerve disorders
- Muscle & joint pain
- Irritability
- Kidney damage
- Digestive problems
- Memory loss
- Fatigue
- Headaches
The health concerns associated with lead exposure are the most concerning, but this hazardous material has wider-reaching consequences throughout homes.
Reduced Insurance Coverage
As a landlord, you want to ensure that your rental properties are safe for tenants. If there is lead in plumbing systems, it might lead providers to increase premiums or refuse coverage altogether.
Corrosion in Plumbing
In the same way that lead exposure causes long-term buildup in the body, it causes serious damage to water systems over time.
Lead pipes have been phased out, but they are still more common than you might think. You can’t see, taste or smell lead in your drinking water, so it can be difficult to diagnose. Call local experts to have water tested for peace of mind.
The Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for lead exposure state that the standard is 5 micrograms per litre (0.005 mg/L). This is the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC), or the highest amount of metal in drinking water that is safe for a person to drink. If your water has more than the maximum amount of lead, no one should drink the water without being flushed or put through a filtration device.
What If I Find Lead in my Water Systems?
The average home undergoes numerous renovations throughout its lifespan, but water systems aren’t always included. It’s easy to expect that tap water is clean and drinkable, but this isn’t always the case. Boiling water might reduce contaminants, but this won’t reduce lead. Local experts are able to provide both long-term and short-term solutions to having lead in your water systems.
Remove Lead
It might seem like a no-brainer, but if your home plumbing system has lead pipes, the best way to solve the issue is a full replacement. The best way to protect everyone inside is to replace those pipes with lead-free materials. This includes the pipes in your home, as well as the service line (the line that brings water from the main into your house).
Flush Lines
The amount of lead that will seep into drinking water depends on the quantity of lead in the system, as well as the chemical makeup of your water and how long they are in contact. If you don’t have an effective water filtration system, it’s a good idea to flush sitting water from lines. This is as simple as running taps for 5 minutes before using that water for drinking or food preparation.
Use Effective Water Filters
Not all water filters are equipped to remove dissolvable metals, like lead. Choosing a reverse osmosis filtration system is effective for treating lead and purifying water, so it is safe to use freely.
Call Pete & Son Plumbing
Whether you know for certain or just suspect that you are dealing with lead in your water, don’t hesitate to call local experts. Our experienced teams can help identify, treat and replace materials containing lead for a happier, healthier home.
