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Lead and CCWD Drinking Water The United States Environmental Protection Agency has been working closely with water agencies across the nation to update and improve rules concerning the amount of lead in drinking water.
Lead was commonly used in older household plumbing materials and some water service lines. None of the water service pipelines used by the Contra Costa Water District contain lead. Within CCWD, the greatest chance for exposure to lead is from the pipes and fixtures used in older homes, usually those built before 1986 when plumbing rules changed. Lead in drinking water can cause a variety of adverse health effects. In babies and children, exposure to lead in drinking water above the action level can result in delays in physical and mental development, along with slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, it can cause increases in blood pressure. Adults who drink water containing lead over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. New homes are also at some risk. Legally “lead-free” plumbing may contain up to 8 percent lead. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach significant amounts of lead into the water, especially hot water. CCWD conducts tests every three years at more than 50 selected homes from throughout the treated water service area. These tests are done on homes with older plumbing. Results are published in the Annual Water Quality Report. Between 2000 and 2005, the District tested 324 homes and only two homes were found to have lead levels that exceeded the EPA minimums. How can I reduce lead in drinking water at home? Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking, and especially for making baby formula. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead. These two recommendations are very important to the health of your family. They will probably be effective in reducing lead levels because most of the lead in household water usually comes from the plumbing in your house. Some commercial water filters claim to remove lead from water, please check the package or with the manufacturer to make sure the filter is designed to remove lead before buying one of these filters. How can I tell if my water contains too much lead? Since you cannot see, taste, or smell lead dissolved in water, testing is the only sure way of telling whether there are harmful quantities of lead in your drinking water. You should be particularly suspicious if your home has lead pipes (lead is a dull gray metal that is soft enough to be easily scratched with a house key), or if you see signs of corrosion (frequent leaks, rust-colored water, stained dishes or laundry). CCWD tests every three years for lead in selected homes that have older plumbing. If you're interested in becoming a part of this annual program, please call the Water Quality Hotline at (925) 688-8156. The program is free for homeowners, but homes tested must meet specific guidelines before being included in the test. You may also find some testing information on the world wide web. For more information on lead in drinking water: For more information from CCWD, please send an e-mail or call our Water Quality Hotline at (925) 688-8156. Environmental Protection Agency |
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