Pb is the symbol for lead on the Periodic Table. The word plumbing comes from plumbum, the Latin word for lead. Ancient Rome developed water systems using lead pipes, which included bringing water to homes, wastewater removal, and aqueducts.
Why did they use lead? It’s malleable, meaning it can be easily shaped into pipes. It resists corrosion and pinhole leaks. And it’s fairly inexpensive. Sounds like the perfect material for our water systems. Except we now know that it is toxic.
Long-term exposure to lead in our water creates health problems, especially for children, pregnant women, and older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). For older adults, lead increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and decreased kidney function. Pregnant women are more likely to experience miscarriages or preeclampsia.
The biggest concern is lead’s effect on children’s health. Lead exposure leads to brain and nervous system damage. Children experience delays in mental and physical development and often have learning disabilities. They are more likely to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anemia, hearing problems, and behavioral problems.
Last week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that will require water utilities to replace all lead pipes within the next ten years. Lead from services lines can leach into water. The use of lead pipes and solder in new homes was banned in 1986. Congress has already mandated removal of lead from paint and gasoline because of the negative health effects.
The new EPA regulation, called the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, will establish a national inventory of lead service lines and require that utilities take more aggressive action to remove lead pipes on homeowners’ private property. It also lowers the level of lead contamination that will trigger government enforcement from 15 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb.
The rule also establishes the first-ever national requirement to test for lead in schools that rely on water from public utilities. It mandates that water systems screen all elementary and child-care facilities and offer testing to middle and high schools.
The EPA estimates that when the new rule is fully implemented, it will protect up to 900,000 infants from having low birth weight; prevent ADHD in up to 2,600 children; avoid up to 1,500 cases of premature death from heart disease; and prevent up to 200,000 IQ points lost in children.
The federal government estimates that more than 9 million homes, schools, daycares, and businesses in the United States are still supplied by lead service lines. Service lines run from the water main to a building’s water meter. The lead poisoning caused by these water lines disproportionately affects low-income communities and communities of color.
In November, 2021, Congress passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) at President Biden’s request. This legislation dedicated $15 billion to lead pipe replacement. Over 367,000 homes have already had lead pipes replaced under this act.
The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) requested information under the Freedom of Information Act, and found that in Nebraska, 46,822 homes still have service lines with lead. This includes many of the older homes in our communities.
What can we do? First of all, understand that our water is hard enough that mineral deposits have coated the inside of the lead pipes, so our contamination isn’t as great as many other areas. Realize also that lead contamination concerns relate only to drinking water, not showers or laundry or lawns. Therefore, a water filtration system or pitcher can remove lead fairly inexpensively. Water softeners do not remove lead.
Our local governments have some work to do! Lead service lines have to be inventoried. Grants must be written. Our city councils and school boards will have to develop policies to comply with the new regulations.
Every American should be able to turn on the tap and drink clean, safe water. This legislation is a significant win, especially for our children.