We all know there are no safe levels of lead in the blood. Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavioral and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity and other things. Lead can pass from the mother to a developing fetus, causing everything from premature birth to issues with the brain, kidneys and nervous system. Lead is also harmful to adults, resulting in cardiovascular issues, reproductive problems and decreased kidney function.
The tricky thing about lead is that you cannot see, smell or taste it; boiling water will not remove lead. Although simply reducing our exposure is not enough, there are ways to do it.
Flush your taps. The longer the water lies dormant in your home’s plumbing, the more lead it might contain. If the water in your faucet has gone unused for more than six hours, flush the tap with cold water for 30 seconds to two minutes before drinking or using it to cook. To conserve water, catch the running water and use it to water your plants.
Use cold water for drinking and cooking. Hot water has the potential to contain more lead than cold water. If hot water is needed for cooking, heat cold water on the stove or in the microwave.
Routinely remove and clean all faucet aerators.
Look for the “Lead Free” label when replacing or installing plumbing fixtures.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacing water filters in household appliances, such as refrigerators and ice makers, as well as home water treatment units and pitchers. Look for NSF 53 certified filters. Customers can also look for NSF 42 certified filers which will help with turbidity concerns.
Flush after plumbing changes. Changes to your service line, meter, or interior plumbing may result in sediment, possibly containing lead, in your water supply. Remove the strainers from each faucet and run the water for three to five minutes.
Routinely clean faucet screens. Sediment and metals can collect in the faucet screen located at the tip of your faucets. Replace screens that are in poor condition. New screens are available at local hardware stores.
We all know to guard against lead-based paint, lead-contaminated soil and other hazards.
But water?
I’ve been concerned with the level of microscopic plastic particles that are in my drinking water, but it never occurred to me that lead could be in my water!
Actually, lead is not in the water. Tennessee American Water Company provides water that is tested and retested to ensure it is safe. The water in the main water line is safe. And keeping us safe is at the forefront of this company’s promise.
Tennessee American is responsible for the water and pipes, including the service line connecting the main in the street to the meter, but not for the pipes after the meter that bring water into our homes and businesses. And TAWC is taking inventory of every single account to make sure there is no lead in the pipes.
Older homes, built before 1930, could have lead pipes. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead-soldered joints. TAWC has built an interactive online map that will help you determine what your water line from the water main in the street to your home are. They are asking residents of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Lookout Mountain, Ga., to self-identify and self-report the material of the portion of the pipe that connects the water meter in the yard and continues into homes or businesses.
Go to tennesseeamwater.com/leadfacts and search for your address. Zoom in and you will see circles on the outline of your home. There is a circle with two halves. The half on the left should be blue, and ideally the half on the right should also be blue. If it’s white, we need to get to the bottom of it. And we can do it!
Click on the circle on your house and if unknown, go to the link that pops up in the square. You’ll be taken to a form that will walk you through the process on how to identify and report the material of your service line.
“Tennessee American Water continues to meet and surpass all local and federal drinking water standards,” said Lori Stenzel, manager of water quality and environmental compliance for Tennessee American Water. “This lead service line survey and self-identification process helps ensure transparency and supports our ongoing commitment to providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water service.”
Thank you, Tennessee American Water Company!
by Ferris Robinson
The tricky thing about lead is that you cannot see, smell or taste it; boiling water will not remove lead. Although simply reducing our exposure is not enough, there are ways to do it.
Flush your taps. The longer the water lies dormant in your home’s plumbing, the more lead it might contain. If the water in your faucet has gone unused for more than six hours, flush the tap with cold water for 30 seconds to two minutes before drinking or using it to cook. To conserve water, catch the running water and use it to water your plants.
Use cold water for drinking and cooking. Hot water has the potential to contain more lead than cold water. If hot water is needed for cooking, heat cold water on the stove or in the microwave.
Routinely remove and clean all faucet aerators.
Look for the “Lead Free” label when replacing or installing plumbing fixtures.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacing water filters in household appliances, such as refrigerators and ice makers, as well as home water treatment units and pitchers. Look for NSF 53 certified filters. Customers can also look for NSF 42 certified filers which will help with turbidity concerns.
Flush after plumbing changes. Changes to your service line, meter, or interior plumbing may result in sediment, possibly containing lead, in your water supply. Remove the strainers from each faucet and run the water for three to five minutes.
Routinely clean faucet screens. Sediment and metals can collect in the faucet screen located at the tip of your faucets. Replace screens that are in poor condition. New screens are available at local hardware stores.
We all know to guard against lead-based paint, lead-contaminated soil and other hazards.
But water?
I’ve been concerned with the level of microscopic plastic particles that are in my drinking water, but it never occurred to me that lead could be in my water!
Actually, lead is not in the water. Tennessee American Water Company provides water that is tested and retested to ensure it is safe. The water in the main water line is safe. And keeping us safe is at the forefront of this company’s promise.
Tennessee American is responsible for the water and pipes, including the service line connecting the main in the street to the meter, but not for the pipes after the meter that bring water into our homes and businesses. And TAWC is taking inventory of every single account to make sure there is no lead in the pipes.
Older homes, built before 1930, could have lead pipes. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead-soldered joints. TAWC has built an interactive online map that will help you determine what your water line from the water main in the street to your home are. They are asking residents of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Lookout Mountain, Ga., to self-identify and self-report the material of the portion of the pipe that connects the water meter in the yard and continues into homes or businesses.
Go to tennesseeamwater.com/leadfacts and search for your address. Zoom in and you will see circles on the outline of your home. There is a circle with two halves. The half on the left should be blue, and ideally the half on the right should also be blue. If it’s white, we need to get to the bottom of it. And we can do it!
Click on the circle on your house and if unknown, go to the link that pops up in the square. You’ll be taken to a form that will walk you through the process on how to identify and report the material of your service line.
“Tennessee American Water continues to meet and surpass all local and federal drinking water standards,” said Lori Stenzel, manager of water quality and environmental compliance for Tennessee American Water. “This lead service line survey and self-identification process helps ensure transparency and supports our ongoing commitment to providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water service.”
Thank you, Tennessee American Water Company!
by Ferris Robinson
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