1. Contact your water utility or a licensed plumber to find out if you have lead service lines — a pipe that runs from the water main or curb to the home’s internal plumbing. Fixtures in your home may also contain lead. The likelihood of lead pipes increases if your house was built before 1986.
2. You can find out if you had lead service lines on your own, too. Use a key or a coin to gently scratch the pipe. If your pipe is soft, easily scratched and a magnet doesn’t stick to it, then it may be made of lead.
3. Connect with your local utility to see if they have a lead service line replacement program in the works. Some municipalities offer free replacements or rebates to help offset costs — but in many cases, households are financially responsible for replacing the private side of the lead pipe.
4. If you are pregnant or have a child in the home and are concerned about blood lead levels, you should consult with a family doctor or pediatrician. Lead can impact fetus development and cause behavior learning problems in small children. While increasingly rare, lead exposure can be fatal or result in hospitalization. Your local state or county health department can also provide additional information.
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5. You can reduce exposure by: flushing your water before consumption, regularly cleaning your faucet’s screen, using a water filter certified to remove lead, and using cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula. Boiling water does not remove lead.
Source: U.S. EPA
