AmericanWaterWorks · Transcript · · Updated
AWWA: Together, Let's Get the Lead Out – Transcript
Video by AmericanWaterWorks · Watch the original on YouTube
Summary
AI-generated from the transcript. Verify details against the source video.
- Lead in drinking water can originate from service lines connecting older homes to water mains or from plumbing materials and solder used in homes built before 1986.
- Property owners and utilities can have a plumber examine service lines and plumbing materials, and ensure new fixtures are certified as lead free.
- Households can protect themselves by using cold water for cooking and drinking, flushing pipes after periods of non-use, cleaning faucet aerators, and using certified home filters.
Use this video with Pro
Reading, copying and transcript downloads are free. Create saved AI results for this video with a signed-in Pro account ($9/month).
Transcript
Search ignores accents. All transcript text stays visible.
you've probably heard about the hazards of lead paint in older homes but did you know that there can also be a risk of lead in your drinking water lead is a bad thing no matter where it comes from in children low levels of lead exposure have been linked to learning disabilities behavior problems and other issues to protect yourself and your family you need to know where lead comes from if you're at risk of lead exposure
and what you can do to keep lead out of your drinking water so some things to know when your drinking water leaves a treatment plant and as it travels through the water maids in your neighborhood lead is rarely a concern so how might lead get into the water in your home lead can be in pipes that connect some older homes to the water mains those pipes are called service
lines and for some homes built before 1986 service lines were made of lead in the past lead was also used in some Plumbing materials and in solder within our homes when lead comes into contact with water it can dissolve into the water or break off in tiny particles and that's how lead can end up in your home's drinking water so what can you do about it well if there's no lead
touching your water there's no risk so find out if you have lead in your surface lineer plumbing and whenever possible get the lead out a plumber can examine both the service line and other materials in your plumbing make sure new fixtures are certified as lead free your utility may be able to help you find a contractor to remove and replace a lead service line usually the ownership of service lines is split between the
utility and the property owner ask your utility if it has Assistance programs to help manage the expense in the meantime there are steps you can take right away to protect your household you should always begin with cold water for drinking and cooking when you haven't used your water for several hours flush out the pipes to remove any lead you can do this by running cold water from the faucet taking a shower
doing a load of laundry or washing dishes consider capturing the extra water from the faucet and using it to water plants or even for flushing the toilet your utility may be able to provide more detailed guidance you should also clean out your faucet airators because they can collect lead particles and you can even purchase a home filter certified to remove lead if you do make sure it is properly
maintained contact your water utility for additional details or visit drink.or you can also have your water tested by a certified lab to see if lead is present your water utility strives to provide safe and healthy water for your home we all play a role in keeping it that way together let's get the let out this message brought to you by the American Waterworks Association