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Call South Metro: (612) 260-7448
Call Hutchinson: (612) 294-8599

One of the most common tap water contaminants we see enter your home’s water source after it has left a treatment facility is lead.

Municipalities in Minnesota are required to provide water test results with most posting the information on their websites. If you are curious, go to your city’s website and search for Water Report. It is also known as the Consumer Confidence Report. These reports represent the first level of contaminants that cities are required to report, including lead. For these tested contaminants, there is a legal level at which the cities must stay below based on the Federal Safe Water Act. Just so you are aware, there is also a second level of testing that is not required for reporting.

Where does the lead come from? If you are on a well rather than municipal water, be aware lead may be present as it can be a result of the erosion of natural deposits. However, most lead contaminants are due to leaching from corroding lead sources. These can be in your home, business, or in the miles of lines, the water travels after the water leaves the treatment plant in your city.

Cities:

  • Many have older lead service pipes for dispersing water throughout the city.
  • Many have lead connection lines running from those service lines into your home.

Buildings:

  • Some older buildings may have internal lead pipes.
  • Leaching can also happen from lead solder or older brass fixtures.

Homes – some homes are vulnerable as well:

  • Lead pipes were often used in home construction until 1986.
  • Lead solder was used in construction before 1986.
  • High lead content brass fixtures, including faucets, were used in homes before 2014.

Lead poses health hazards, especially in children, and is considered dangerous at 20 parts per billion (ppb). Some studies have shown levels as low as 7 ppb can be dangerous. Lead is also absorbed in cooking, making any kitchen faucet a concern. Minnesota law has an Action Level (AL) of 15 parts per billion (ppb) for municipalities and most fall well below that. However, as stated earlier, many of the problems occur after the water leaves the city water treatment plant.

At this point, you may be thinking, “If I want to lessen the risk of lead in my water, what is the solution?” A Reverse Osmosis system is your best defense against lead. It will remove 97% of the contaminants in your water.

Please contact Tri County Water Conditioning if we can answer further questions or be of assistance to you. You can call 800-879-2220 or visit us at www.treatmywater.com.

Your water. Our solution.