The Truth About Lead in Your Water

Conflicting Information

There is a lot of information on the internet about the safety of drinking water, and you might find that some of it is conflicting. In particular, researching the amount of lead that is safe in the water is both confusing and misleading, so we will break down the information so you understand lead and water safety for your Sycamore, IL home.

First, it’s important to understand how lead gets into your water in the first place. Most people assume that this is only a concern for people with older homes. While It’s true that homes built before the mid-1980s are more likely to have lead pipes and, therefore, be at higher risk for lead-contaminated water, brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and plumbing fixtures and plumbing with lead solder can also contribute to lead in the water.

Lead is leaked into the water when the pipes corrode, and there are a number of factors that contribute to how much lead actually enters the home’s water source. These levels are affected by the amount of pipe corrosion, the length of time the water is in contact with the pipes, and even the chemical makeup of the water, among other things.

EPA Accepted Levels

Very low levels of lead are often cited as safe for the purposes of public health. However, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website, “EPA has set the maximum contaminant level goal for lead in drinking water at zero because lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health even at low exposure levels.”

So how do you know if your water is safe in Sycamore, IL? One way to determine the water safety for your Sycamore, IL home is to start by reviewing your municipalities Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which can provide some information on the quality of the water you use, but since testing protocol can vary, and lead can and will change on a daily basis, we highly recommend this next step. The second step is to have the water tested for your home especially.

Prairie State Water Solutions Offers Water Testing

Prairie State Water Solutions offers water testing services, so you’ll know if your home’s water contains lead, copper, bacteria, or other contaminants. If the results reveal that there is lead in your home’s water, Prairies State Water Solutions can provide you with water filtration options that are NSF certified to remove the lead from your water.

Water safety is a concern for many families, but it doesn’t have to be. Call Prairie State Water Solutions at 1-630-864-7078 for a free consultation. Our water specialists can answer your questions and help you determine the solution that is best for your Sycamore, IL home and your family.