Some General Information on Water Testing

A problem that has often been reported with drinking water is the presence of lead, a heavy metal. Shelton (1989) outlined the following steps to minimize human exposure to lead  

Flush the plumbing to counteract the effects of contact time. Flushing involves allowing the cold faucet to run until a change in temperature occurs (minimum of 1 min). 

Hot water tends to aggravate lead leaching when brought in contact with lead plumbing materials. 

Water-treatment devices for individual households include calcite filters and other devices to lessen acidity which increases lead release. 

Use lead-free materials for repairs and installation of new plumbing. 

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