More information
Lead isn’t detected in Denver Water’s raw water supplies or in the treated water leaving our plants. Copper is present in minute quantities well below health standards. The most common source of lead and copper in treated drinking water is a customer’s plumbing.
Lead’s documented health effects in adults include high blood pressure, hearing problems, and kidney and nervous system disorders. In infants and children, lead can interfere with formation of red blood cells, cause low birth weight, delay physical and mental development, and is a cancer risk. Long-term exposure to high levels of lead can result in death. At high levels, copper can cause gastrointestinal difficulties. Water represents only about 20 percent of total exposure to lead - there are many other sources including food containers, ceramics, keys, candles and especially paints and dust from paint chips.
Your residence or business might have a higher susceptibility to lead or copper if:
- The water system has lead pipes, service or fixtures containing lead;
- The structure was built between 1982 and 1987 using copper pipes joined with lead-based solder, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The inside of pipes in older structures in our system should have sufficient mineral deposits of substances other than lead to prevent water from being in contact with the pipe. Leaded solder was banned in 1988.
Get the Lead Out
Here are some ways to reduce your exposure to lead if you think it's present in your tap water:
- When water has been standing in your pipes, run the cold-water tap until it gets noticeably colder. The lower temperature indicates you have cleared water that has been standing in pipes. (To conserve water, remember to catch the flushed tap water for plants or some other household use.)
- Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking and especially for making baby formula. Hot tap water dissolves lead faster and is likely to contain higher levels of lead if present.
- Insist on lead-free solder and lead-free fixtures when repairing or replacing plumbing.
Have Your Water Tested
The only way to be sure of the amount of lead in your household water is to have it tested by a competent laboratory. You should be particularly suspicious if your home has lead pipes and you see signs of corrosion (frequent leaks, rust-colored water, stained dishes or laundry). If you decide to have your water tested for lead, make sure you select a lab that is state certified for that analysis through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at 303-692-3500.
Information about testing young children for lead also can be obtained from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at 303-692-2700.
Treatment Devices
There are many filtering devices certified for effective lead reduction, but devices that are not designed to remove lead won't work. These implements use various kinds of filtering media, including carbon, ion exchange, resins, activated alumina and other products. Unless they have been certified to remove lead by the National Sanitation Foundation International or the Water Quality Association, their effectiveness can vary greatly. Flushing your tap water is extremely effective in removing lead.
Denver Water Lead & Copper Testing
Because Denver Water consistently has been below lead and copper Action Levels as set by the EPA, the state health department permits reduced monitoring to once every three years. The most recent monitoring figures are always included in Denver Water’s annual Water Quality Report.
Cutting into Lead Service Lines
In many older homes, the service line that connects your home to the water main in the street is made of lead. This service line is the responsibility of the property owner.
The naturally occurring minerals in Denver’s source water coat the inside of the pipe and isolate the lead from contact with drinking water. If this coating is disturbed or the service line is cut, customers can be exposed to elevated lead levels.
Currently, Denver Water and its contractors cut or disturb lead service lines in the course of laying new pipe or repairing leaks. It is standard practice for Denver Water or its contractors to replace the lead service line with copper from the water main to the meter or the curb stop if the property has an inside setting (see illustration).
Denver Water leaves notification for homeowners whose lead service lines were cut in the course of repairs or construction. The notification provides the following tips on how to decrease the potential exposure to possible elevated lead levels:
- Run the cold water in your bathtubs/showers, utility sink and outdoor hose spigots for five minutes.
- Remove the aerators or screens on your kitchen and bathroom faucets and run the cold water for five additional minutes.
- Whenever the water line sits unused for more than a few hours, run the cold water until it is noticeably cooler.