What You Should Know About Lead in Water

Overview

Contamination of water can be due to a variety of substances and chemicals, lowering its overall quality. Lead, a type of heavy metal found naturally in the earth’s crust, is one of these substances. Although it is beneficial in a range of settings and uses, it is hazardous to both animals and people, resulting in a variety of health issues. Because it is naturally present in certain water sources and soils, it is possible that it will contaminate your drinking water, posing a health risk.

All About Lead

Construction businesses frequently employed lead in the manufacture of plumbing pipes. Because of how soft and flexible this material was, it was popular among building companies. We may also use lead piping in the construction of your home.When these pipes degrade, lead from the piping can leach into the water. If your home’s water is acidic in any manner, corrosion will be accelerating. This can result in more lead in your drinking water. Keep in mind that lead often enters water after it has left a treatment facility, implying that the water has previously been treated and is meant to be free of toxins that could cause health problems. Smelting, mines, and various industrial operations are among other sources of lead contamination, in addition to lead service lines and brass fittings. Aluminium, arsenic, germs, viruses, fluoride, copper, iron, and mercury are some of the other pollutants typically present in water.

You can test the quality of your water using a number of different sensors. We mainly recommend that you use an industrial water treatment sensor to determine if any lead is present in water. Sensors will measure how conductive the water is as well as the amount of pollutants that may be present in the water.

This article delves into the topic of lead in water and the fascinating facts that surround it. To know how to remove them from water, please check out our blog. 

Important elements to keep in mind:

  • Water containing lead is relatively common and can be exceedingly harmful to humans and animals.
  • Because there are several adverse effects that can be harmful to your health if you consume lead, we recommend a variety of treatment options to assist you figure out which is best for you. 
  • It is present in water in a variety of ways, the most common of which is through a sort of industrial conduit.

Lead in Water: Consequences

Along with utilising a conductivity sensor to test the quality of your water, you can also use a home water test kit to see whether there is any lead in it. While these testing kits will not tell you the exact concentration of lead in the water, they will indicate if there is any lead present. This allows us to assess whether or not water treatment is required or not. Because there are a variety of negative side effects that can develop when drinking polluted water, it’s critical for you to determine if they are present in water. We consider lead as highly hazardous, which means that even a small amount of it can cause health issues and adverse effects.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s mission is to ensure that no lead is present in drinking water. Lead levels in city water, on the other hand, must be under 15 parts per billion. Keep in mind that public and municipal water systems are charge to test for lead in their supply. 

Any level of lead in your system might be harmful to your health. Lead poisoning in early children can cause long-term developmental and neurological disorders. Lead poisoning is also a possibility. This lead poisoning is a chronic condition that can cause developmental, behavioural, and learning issues. They can cause anaemia, stunted growth, and hearing loss in children. The following are some of the extra adverse effects that might arise when drinking water containing lead: 

  • The discomfort in your stomach
  • Irritability
  • Loss of Weight
  • Constipation
  • Vomiting
  • Appetitelessness
  • Seizures
  • Delays in development

Remember that when you have lead poisoning, these problems are more likely to arise. It’s vital to remember that lead cannot be absorbed via the skin directly. 

The Most Effective Lead Treatment Methods

If you find lead in your water, there are several effective treatment options available. This includes reverse osmosis and ion exchange. However, detecting lead in your water is critical first. While we need to use a typical water quality test to check for lead,we advise that you utilise a conductivity sensor instead. A conductivity sensor can detect dissolved substances in your water, such as lead and other metals, with pinpoint accuracy. A high conductivity result indicates that the water is of poor quality and that treatment may be required. After you’ve identified the source of the lead and made sure it’s gone, you may treat the water and get it back to normal.

You can choose between point-of-entry and point-of-use filtration systems while looking for the best water filtration system. A point-of-entry system is meant to be installed directly into the principal water line, which is the point at which water enters the home. Because the water is treated before it enters the rest of the house, these systems are referred to as whole-house filtration systems. 

Point-of-use systems, on the other hand, are installed where the water will be consumed, and can only be utilised for one water connection. The most prevalent point-of-use system is reverse osmosis (RO). When used with ORP sensors like the S272CD-ORP sensor, these systems are extremely effective. They can filter water using a semipermeable membrane and a complicated filtration procedure.

Bottom Line 

There are a number of factors that might influence the amount of lead in your water, including: 

  • Materials that were utilised in the construction of your plumbing system. If you have a private well on your property, some of the components may be composed of lead.
  • Water stays in pipes for a certain amount of time.
  • Having a private well. 
  • Water pipelines are grounded by electrical wires.
  • The water’s corrosivity. Corrosive water increases the amount of lead that can enter the water.

Water containing lead can be extremely detrimental to your health and the health of anyone who drinks it. That is why you should test your water on a frequent basis. When lead is identified in water, it can be handled using a variety of filtration processes. But the most successful of which is reverse osmosis. It should be simple to test for and identify lead in your water if you have a water quality monitor on hand. 

Do you find this article interesting? Then please check out the rest of the blogs too. We’re sure that you’ll find them fascinating and valuable as well. Contact us to know more about us and if you have any queries. We are happy to hear from you.

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