Onondaga County Health Department is nationally accredited and meets rigorous public health standards necessary to best serve the needs of our community.
Drinking Water Quality: Lead
What are the health effects of lead?
The EPA has determined that lead in drinking water is a health concern at certain levels of exposure. Lead is found throughout the environment in lead-based paint, air, soil, household dust, food, certain types of pottery porcelain and pewter, and water. Lead can pose a significant risk to your health if too much of it enters your body. Lead builds up in the body over many years and can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young children and pregnant women. Amounts of lead that will not hurt adults can slow down normal mental and physical development of growing bodies. In addition, a child at play often comes into contact with sources of lead contamination - like dirt and dust - that rarely affect an adult. It is important to wash children’s hands and toys often, and to try to make sure they only put food in their mouths.
Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly increase a person’s total lead exposure, particularly the exposure of children under the age of 6. EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person’s total exposure to lead.
How does lead enter our water?
Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like groundwater, rivers and lakes. Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and in building plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass, and chrome-plated brass faucets.
In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder and flux containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes and other plumbing materials used in new installations or repairs to a maximum level of 8%, which was at the time considered “lead free.” However, the lead in the “lead free” plumbing materials meeting the 1986 requirements is still subject to corrosion. In 2014 the limit for new installations and repairs was lowered to 0.25%. Construction predating June 1986 may have plumbing components with lead levels up to 50%. When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may dissolve into the drinking water. This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning may contain fairly high levels of lead.
How can I reduce my exposure to lead that may be in the drinking water in my home?
Run your water for at least 30 seconds or until it becomes cold and reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking if it hasn't been used in several hours to flush out lead. This reduces the concentration of lead-containing water from the pipes and fixture.
Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap as lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.
Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead concentration.
