The shift to supply water from the Detroit system to that of Flint River in 2014 exposed residents of Flint, Michigan to lead. Lead exposure at high levels can cause brain damage, anemia, seizures, coma, or even death. Water, air, and soil are ways through which lead can get into the body, but drinking water is the easiest, which is why you should test the water that you consume.
Here are some of the effective ways that you can detect lead in your water.
1) Contact a Water Filtration Company
Contacting a water filtration company is one way to detect lead in your water. Many of these companies will test the water for you. There are several of them that you can contact online. If your water contains lead, you can get a water filtration system on https://www.aquaoxwaterfilters.com/lead-water-filter/ and install it at your home. The system requires no filter replacement or maintenance. The system also lasts for a long time close to 20 years, and you can rest assured that you and your family are taking lead-free water.
2) Purchase a Home Test Kit
You can buy a home test kit from retailers both from physical shops or online. You will find several brands available to choose from, and you can get one to do the test. For correct detection, do not open any water faucet, shower, or flush the loo at home for at least six hours.
Take the first sample and the next after running the water for two minutes. The kit contains various strips. Choose the one for lead, which you will place in the water sample. Read the instructions on the kit and wait for the specified time to check for lead.
3) Go To a Certified Lab
You can go to a lab certified by the Department of Environmental Protection to test for lead in your water. The lab can provide the bottle for collecting the sample or advise you to get a sanitized one. Follow the lab’s instructions on how to collect the water, which includes collecting water after six hours without opening it.
Take the second sample after running the water for two minutes to test for lead in pipes. You can then deliver the samples and wait for results through an email or mail.
4) Contact Your Local Water Supplier
You may check if your water supplier offers testing services, and you can get them for free. Since the municipal water has EPA standards, its results are genuine. The water supplier is reliable, but to get the services is time-consuming.
5) Test for Yourself
You can check for lead impurities all by yourself by checking the home pipes and header pipe. Rule out lead, if the pipes are of copper or plastic, but those with gray or black color may contain it. Use a piece of metal to scratch the pipe. If no scratch appears, it is safe, and if it turns white, then it contains lead.
For the header pipes, contact your water supplier to offer you information on the header pipe material. Testing yourself is an affordable and quick method, but you may never be sure how much lead is present in the water.
