Lead is a heavy metal. In fact, it is denser than most other substances on the planet. It is also malleable. In other words, you can bend it easily and even melt it as it has a low boiling point. This, and the fact it is cheap previously made it a good choice for plumbing pipes, additives I paint, batteries, bullets, and even dancing shoes.
However, it was then discovered that lead is harmful to humans. It builds up in your body, specifically in the soft tissues and bones. After long-term exposure it will damage your nervous system and can cause brain damage, the damage is irreversible.
Lead & Your Water
Lead pipes are very uncommon in Australia unless you have an old house with original plumbing. However, lead is still used in small amounts in brass fittings, which are also in your plumbing system.
In conjunction with this, lead is a natural material and can leach its way into the water as it travels through the soil to the treatment plant. As the treatment plant doesn’t remove the lead it can be present in the water that comes out of your faucet
It is generally recommended that you ruin your tap water for thirty seconds before using the water. This should dissipate any lead build-up, minimizing the risk.
Eliminating The Lead
To eliminate the lead from your water the best approach is to get a water filter that targets heavy metals. Reverse osmosis filters are generally the best option. You can also invest in water coolers or a water dispenser as this will either use bottled water or have a filter built into the system.
Filtering your water doesn’t just remove lead, it can remove an array of other heavy metals, minerals, and contaminants. It is the most effective way of ensuring your water is lead-free.
If you don’t mind a little inconvenience you can test your water daily to see if lead or any other contaminant is present. Testing is relatively simple but it does mean you can never just get a glass of water.
This process will highlight the issue but it won’t remove the lead!
It is possible to swap to bottled water instead of your tap water. This is usually a more expensive option but does give the opportunity to drink lead-free water. It’s not as practical as you have to purchase the water regularly.
You should also note that some bottled water is just tap water, check the label before you buy.
Another approach is to distill your water. This is also more time-consuming but it is useful to understand. In effect you are boiling the water and capturing the steam, allowing it to cool back into the water for you to drink. You will need a means of capturing the steam.
This process actually removes all minerals and contaminants from your water, giving you pure water. It isn’t the most convenient solution but can be useful to know if you are ever in the wilderness.