How to Remove Lead from Your Drinking Water

Lead poisoning is a dangerous thing. This tasteless and odorless contaminant can enter the lungs and digestive system and effect the brain, nervous system, kidneys and other parts of the body. One source of lead exposure is through drinking water. And it could be coming from the plumbing in your home. There are a few steps you can take to remove the lead from your drinking water if you find the contaminant is present.

Find the source of the lead. Some sources of lead are pipes that are joined with lead solder. If your home is more than 20 years old your pipes could have this solder. Your town's water system may also contain solder which increases the possibility of lead in water. If you have a well and pump check both. You can hire a well water professional to help identify if your well components are the source of the lead.

Do not boil water. Boiling water will only cause some of the water to evaporate which leaves a higher percentage of lead.

Flush pipes. If a faucet has not been used for at least six hours, run water from your cold water pipes to flush the system. Have the water run until it is the coldest it will get. You may want to wait for at least two minutes before using the water. The longer the water is sitting in the pipes the more lead may be present. When returning home from a trip be sure to run water from your pipes for a longer period of time. Flush each faucet before use.

Purchase a filter. A lead filter can be installed under the sink. Two types of filters you can purchase to remove lead from your drinking water are point-of-use devices and point-of-entry devices. Point-of-use filters are usually small units installed on taps to treat water for drinking and cooking. Point-of-entry devices are installed where the water enters the home. They are larger units capable of treating larger amounts of water. These devices are more costly.

Drink only cold water. Cold water is your best bet for drinking and cooking because hot water contains a higher percentage of lead.