Unfortunately, lead in drinking water is more common than it should be. Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that’s toxic to humans. If you ingest too much, it can cause lead poisoning! Learn the signs of lead in your water and schedule a water quality test with Morris-Jenkins.
What Are the Signs of Lead Poisoning?
Lead poisoning is especially dangerous for children and pregnant women. Some of the damage lead poisoning can cause is irreversible. That’s why it’s so important to schedule a water quality test if you’re even a little suspicious of your water!
Signs of lead poisoning can include things like:
- High blood pressure
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Problems with memory and concentration
- Headaches
- Abdominal pain
- Mood disorders
- Fertility disorders
- Damage to the brain and kidneys
Just because you have some or all of these signs doesn’t necessarily mean they’re from lead poisoning. If you even suspect that lead in your water might be the cause, call Morris-Jenkins to schedule a water quality test sooner rather than later! There’s no “safe” level of lead, so let’s make sure your water is pure. There are things we can do to get your family the safe drinking water they need!
What Does Lead Look Like in Water? Can You Taste Lead in Water?
You can’t see lead in your water. Your water will look clear like normal. You also can’t taste lead in your water. It doesn’t have a smell, either! The only way to know for sure whether or not you have lead in your water is to have it tested by a professional.
How Does Lead Get in Water?
If your water passes through plumbing materials that contain lead (such as lead pipes), a chemical reaction can occur, leaching lead into your water. Some different things come into play that can affect how much lead gets into your water, like how acidic your water is, the temperature of the water, and how old your pipes are. Homes in older neighborhoods are more likely to have lead pipes than newer ones. If a home was built before the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act, there’s a very real possibility that it has lead pipes or lead solder in the plumbing system somewhere. Even beyond that, a lot of homes have lead service lines that connect their homes to the city water supply!
Can You Remove Lead from Your Water?
You can’t boil lead out of water, and not every water filter is meant to filter out lead. If you suspect your home’s water supply has lead in it, text or call us! We can do a full water quality test to check the safety of your water. If we find out your water does have lead in it, one of our water experts will work with you to figure out the perfect solution to give your home clean and safe water!
Whole Home Filtration to Remove Lead in Water
When you have us out to test your water for lead, one of our water experts will go over the results with you and help your family find the perfect solution to get clean and pure water! If it turns out you do have lead in your water, we have some options to help.
The filters we install to remove the lead from your water use cartridges that last 3-5 years before needing to be replaced. The same filters we use to remove lead from your water are also certified to reduce perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate chemicals (PFOS). These are the same chemicals used to make non-stick cookware, and they’re often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they stay in your body forever once you ingest them. These chemicals cause problems with your liver, hormones, thyroid, and more.
NSF Certification
NSF-International is a third-party entity that creates the standards for clean water, food, and other products. They aim to protect and improve health across the world! A lot of manufacturers and regulators look to the NSF to develop certifications that protect people and the environment. The filters we use to remove lead are NSF-certified to reduce lead, PFOAs, and PFOS in your water.
Lead in Water Testing Services by Morris-Jenkins
We offer multiple types of water quality tests here at Morris-Jenkins, but there’s one in particular that tests for lead. When you call or text us about possible lead in your water, one of our water experts will come out to test your water right away! We’re here til midnight and we always have real locals answering your calls and texts. Let us know if you need help dealing with lead in your water!
