Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Lead?

The federal government, EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) requires SAWS (San Antonio Water System) to conduct an inventory of all homes. SAWS will send notices to 300,000 customers about the potential for lead in consumer plumbing. Why is this notice required? How does lead get into drinking water? What are the health effects of lead in water? How to remove lead from water? Waterdrop will introduce you to it.

During the first half of the 20th century, contractors installed lead-based water pipes in most of the biggest cities in the United States. They were highly durable water pipes with the potential to last up to 100 years or possibly even longer. That is why many American cities still use them today.

You may recall the water contamination crisis in Flint , Michigan, in 2016. After Flint city officials decided to switch to a new source of drinking water for the residents, health officials discovered higher levels of lead in the water. What’s worse is that the city’s children ended up with nearly double the normal lead levels in their blood since the switch to the new water source.

Numerous tests concluded that the new water source was not properly treated, resulting in poor-quality drinking water for Flint residents. While some adults may be resilient to developing severe symptoms from drinking lead-based water, young children who consume it have a higher risk of suffering permanent health effects. Some of these effects may include slow developmental growth, behavioral problems, and cognitive impairment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other public health organizations are demanding comprehensive water testing and an investigation to determine which Flint homes still have lead water pipes.

Consuming lead is dangerous for your health because it is a toxic heavy metal that can damage almost any organ or function in your body. In most cases, the adverse health effects caused are irreversible.

The EPA believes that consuming any amount of lead can cause permanent damage to physical health, especially for children whose bodies and minds are still developing.

If you inadvertently consume lead from your drinking water, you are susceptible to developing a wide range of health problems and symptoms. Some of these include the following:

Children under 6 are at greatest risk for health problems from lead exposure . If children are around items with a high level of lead, they won’t have lead poisoning symptoms right away. But when they do, symptoms include stomach pain, headaches, vomiting, confusion, muscle weakness, seizures, hair loss, and anemia.

A child with low blood lead levels can still experience health issues. These issues may include behavioral problems, learning issues, attention disorders, slow developmental growth, low IQ, and hearing difficulties. In the most extreme cases, a child who consumes and ingests lead from their water could develop seizures, fall into a coma, or even die. That is why this must be taken seriously.

Adults with lead poisoning can develop all kinds of health complications, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, infertility, or even death. The common symptoms associated with these conditions include constipation, abdominal pain, irritability, headaches, low appetite, hyperactivity, feelings of anxiousness, muscle pains, inability to focus, memory loss, low energy, and weight loss.

Lead poisoning can harm anyone, including children, adults, and pregnant women. Of course, the amount of lead consumed in the body determines the severity of the health effects and symptoms.

If a pregnant woman is exposed to lead and develops any level of lead in their blood, it could impact their fetus and pregnancy overall . The consequences could include any of the following:

No evidence shows that human skin absorbs lead when you shower or bathe in lead-contaminated water. It is even difficult to lead to being absorbed by the mucous membranes in your nose or mouth.

The most common way that people are exposed to lead is through ingestion by drinking or eating something that contains lead. Sometimes, merely placing an item in your mouth that has lead in it could expose your body to lead. You must also be careful not to inadvertently inhale lead from any mist, dust, or fumes in the air.

Several possible sources can be responsible for contaminating your drinking water with lead. , including the following:

Iron water pipes that are galvanized, old, or corroded may cause lead to be released into the drinking water.

Some plumbing fixtures and water tanks are lined with lead, especially older ones, and can cause lead to contaminate your drinking water over time. This happens when the lead-based plumbing materials start to corrode. Contamination becomes more severe if the water is soft due to a low level of minerals or if the water is highly acidic.

Brass faucets and fittings made before 2014 are known to contain around 8% lead.

Humans cannot smell, see, or taste lead in water. Therefore, it is essential to test your drinking water to determine if it has harmful levels of lead.

If you need further guidance, contact your local public water supplier for more information on the proper water testing procedure. You should also ask them if there is lead in the service connector that delivers water to your home. A certified laboratory is another source of information on conducting a water test.

Several factors will contribute to your water testing results, such as the water flow, the sampling method used, the current season, and the exact time of day that you conducted the test.

For the convenience of everyone's life, Waterdrop and the Environmental Working Group cooperated to launch a portable query portal. Click this and enter your zip code to check your local water quality.

Here are three ways to reduce lead levels in your water:

People can avoid exposure to lead in water by drinking or using bottled water that has been certified by an independent testing agency. But this may not be the most cost-effective option in the long term.

If you have a large family, your monthly water expenses can add up quickly. With everyone in the household needing clean, safe drinking water, the cost of purchasing bottled water can become a significant burden.

If a faucet has not been used for several hours, allow the water to run at the tap for several minutes before using it for drinking or cooking. The more time water has been sitting in pipes, the more lead it may contain. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, and the length of the lead service line.

However, running water for several minutes to flush away lead has significant limitations:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , using a reverse osmosis water filter is an effective way to reduce lead in water. Reverse osmosis systems use a process that reverses the natural flow of water. Reverse osmosis filtration technology separates water molecules from impurities through its semi-permeable membrane and can filter out a variety of harmful substances, including heavy metals such as lead.

According to an RO system review published by This Old House , the Waterodrop Tankless Reverse Osmosis Water Filter was recommended as the top pick. Waterdrop filters are made of certified lead-free materials, ensuring it is safe to use and, more importantly, they can provide delicious, clean, and healthy water at all times.

In 2024, Waterdrop launched the X Series Reverse Osmosis System, a high-performance, tankless under-sink water filtration solution with 11 stages of filtration, larger flow rate, and better filtration! Waterdrop is currently running the Black Friday promotion that offers huge discounts. Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer! For more information or to purchase Waterdrop X12, click to visit directly!

Lead in drinking water is a serious health concern, but thankfully, with quality water filters, this risk can be effectively mitigated, protecting you and your family from harmful health impacts. Understanding the risks and taking proactive measures to ensure safe water can significantly reduce potential lead exposure. Waterdrop is committed to solving water problems for customers. Please feel free to contact us.