| Lead and Drinking Water from Private Wells
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What is lead?
Lead is a naturally occurring bluish-gray metal found in small amounts
on the earth’s outer layer. Lead can be found in all parts of our
environment. Much of it comes from human activities including burning
fossil fuels, mining, and manufacturing.
Lead is found in many different materials.
Batteries, ammunition, metal products such as solder and pipes, and devices
to shield X-rays all contain lead. Because of health concerns, the amount
of lead found in gasoline, paints and ceramic products, caulking, and pipe
solder has been reduced in recent years. As a result, the amount of lead
in our blood now is much less than it was 30 years ago.
How can I be exposed to lead?
Lead is found in much of the environment,
and people are exposed to lead from a variety of sources every day. Although
lead has been used in numerous consumer products, the most important sources
of lead exposure to the general population are:
- Outdoor air from vehicle emissions and other sources
- Soil and dust (indoor and outdoor) contaminated by the lead in the air
- Food contaminated by lead in the air or in food containers such as lead-soldered cans
- Water from corroded pipes
- Paint that contains lead
It is estimated that lead in drinking water contributes between 10%-20% of
total lead exposure in young children. Food is the greatest single source
of lead exposure for the average adult. In the past few years, federal
controls on lead in gasoline have significantly reduced total human exposure
to lead.
Where and how does lead get into drinking water?
Lead rarely occurs naturally in water;
it usually gets into the water from the delivery system. Service connections,
pipes, solder, and brass fixtures are all parts of the water delivery system
that can contain lead. Reactions between the water and these parts can
cause corrosion and cause the lead to get into your water.
What are the symptoms
of lead exposure?
Lead that is absorbed by the lungs and the digestive tract enters
the bloodstream and travels to other parts of the body. Lead can
affect almost every organ and system in the body. Young children,
infants, and unborn babies are particularly at risk of lead poisoning.
Having too much lead in your blood may cause anemia, a disorder of
the blood. It can also damage the reproductive system in men. At
high levels, lead may decrease a person’s reaction time; cause weakness
in fingers, wrists, or ankles; and affect their memory. It can also
cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and red
blood cells. The connection between these effects and exposure to
low levels of lead is unclear.
What should I do if I
have concerns about lead exposure?
See your health care provider
to discuss your concerns.
How is lead
exposure diagnosed?
A blood test is available
to measure the amount of lead in your blood and to estimate how much lead
you have been exposed to. Blood tests are commonly used to screen children
for lead poisoning. Lead in the teeth and bones can be measured with X-rays,
but this test is not as common.
What is the treatment for lead exposure?
The main treatment for lead poisoning
is to stop the exposure. Removing lead from a person's environment helps
decrease blood-lead levels. The longer you are exposed to lead, the more
likely health damages will occur. In some cases, medications are used to
lower blood-lead levels.
How do I remove lead from my drinking water?
First, try to identify and
remove the lead source. Check both the well and the pump for potential
lead sources. A licensed well water contractor can help you determine if
any of the well components are a source of lead.
Please DO NOT heat or boil
your water to remove lead. Because some of the water evaporates during
the boiling process, the lead concentration of the water can actually increase
as the water is boiled.
If it is not possible or
cost-effective to remove the lead source, flushing the water system before
using the water for drinking or cooking may be an option. Any time a particular
faucet has not been used for several hours (approximately 6 or more), you
can flush the system by running the water for about 2-3 minutes or until
the water becomes as cold as it will get. Flush each faucet individually
before using the water for drinking or cooking. You can use the water flushed
from the tap to water plants, wash dishes or clothing, or clean. Avoid
cooking with or drinking water from hot water taps because hot water dissolves
lead more readily than cold water does.
You may
also wish to consider water treatment methods such as reverse osmosis,
distillation, and carbon filters specially designed to remove lead.
Typically these methods are used to treat water at only one faucet.
Contact your local health department for recommended procedures.
If you want to know more about these filters, please contact NSF International,
an organization for public health and safety through standards development,
product certification, education, and risk management.
NSF International
789 N. Dixboro Road
P.O. Box 130140
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-0140
Phone number: (800) 673-6275
Fax: 734-769-0109
Email: info@nsf.org
Web site: http://www.nsf.org
Revised Summer 2003
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