Lead in Water

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lead can enter drinking water when old pipes containing lead begin to corrode. Corrosion is a dissolving or wearing away of metal caused by a chemical reaction between water and plumbing, lead entering the water as it passes through outdated pipes. Children can be exposed to lead poisoning in old apartment buildings, homes, and schools relying on old pipes to supply water to drinking fountains and sinks. In 2018, tap water in 3 of every 10 homes tested had lead concentrations above 5 parts per billion, the maximum allowed in bottled water by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  Exposure to even small amounts of lead as a child can increase an individual’s blood pressure and cause subtle brain damage that can trigger learning disabilities and violent behavior later in life.