Lead is a naturally occurring metal that is harmful if inhaled or swallowed. Lead can be found in air, soil, dust, food, and water.
The most common source of lead exposure is from paint in homes and buildings built before 1978. Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust are the main sources of exposure for lead in U.S. children. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978.
Although the main sources of exposure to lead are ingesting paint chips and inhaling dust, lead also can be found in some household plumbing materials and some water service lines. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human exposure to lead may come from lead in drinking water. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water. Other sources of lead exposure include paint, ceramics, gasoline, batteries, and cosmetics. For more information, refer to EPA’s Learn About Lead webpage.
Lead can enter drinking water if service lines or plumbing materials that contain lead corrode. Additionally, if water stands in plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may be more likely to dissolve into your drinking water. Additional information is available on the EPA’s Lead in Drinking Water webpage.
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.
There are several steps you can take to reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water that are provided below. However, if you have a lead service line, the best step you can take is to have it replaced.
For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/lead, or contact your health care provider or local health department.
In Newport, lead was commonly used for water service lines and indoor plumbing solder until 1986 when it was banned. Brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as "lead-free," may also contribute to lead in drinking water. Until legislation was passed in 2014, “lead-free” plumbing could contain up to 8 percent lead. Current standards for “lead-free” fixtures allow for no more than 0.25 percent of lead content. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach lead into the water, especially hot water.
Galvanized pipes can also serve as a source of lead exposure in two ways:
We are actively working to identify all drinking water service line materials throughout the water supply. To determine the service line material at your property, we need your help! To help you check for lead, we’ve created a webpage to guide you through the process.
The NWD has been in compliance with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule, and its revisions, since the Rule was first established in 1991. We regularly test the water at a selected number of high-risk homes/buildings located throughout the distribution system. If samples show lead at or above 15 micrograms per liter, we notify the customer and provide instructions on what to do to limit lead exposure as required by Rhode Island Department of Health. If you have further questions about NWD’s lead testing results, you can read our annual consumer confidence reports to find out how we are working to reduce levels of lead in drinking water and other information about your drinking water.
You can also have your water tested for lead. Since you cannot see, taste, or smell lead in water, the only way to determine the level of lead in drinking water at your home/building is to have the water tested. A list of certified laboratories is available from the Rhode Island Department of Health at: www.health.ri.gov/find/labs/analytical
To find and check the unknown material of the water service line in your home or business, you can use this step-by-step guide. After you check your service line, Newport asks you to report your findings through this short survey. Your participation in the survey is CRUCIAL. Participation in the Lead Service Line Inventory could help us secure future funding opportunities that would cover replacement costs on the customers property. Additionally, participants may be eligible for a free water filter pitcher and refill cartridges.