Dolly_gale t1_j3zdoer wrote on January 12, 2023 at 2:33 AM

Reply to comment by elemental333 in 'I'm scared to give it to my kids': Baltimore's water issues are symptoms of a growing national problem by GovernorOfReddit

Fine point: but it doesn't sound like there is lead in the water so much as there are old metal fixtures (like old water faucets) at the schools that contain lead. Lead used to be used as solder to join pipes together, and it used to be more common in metal alloys. Water dissolves some of it if it remains in contact with the surface for a long time (like when the water hasn't been run in an empty school over the weekend). Usually samples at schools are collected at a time to see the "worst case scenario" of water that's been sitting still in contact with pipes and fixtures.

It's a problem that needs to be addressed. However, it doesn't mean that the water going to the schools has an unsafe level of lead in it.

elemental333 t1_j401ew0 wrote on January 12, 2023 at 5:49 AM

Any plumbing/metal plumbing fixtures that were installed prior to 1978 (that have not been renovated) are very likely to have lead…and it’s not just water fixtures, but also corrosion from lead service pipes leading into buildings that are still an issue. Maryland is a very old state, so there has been a lot of work to do. Since Maryland has been strict with lead testing and removing lead fixtures starting in the early 1990’s, the lead exposure rates have gone down drastically, but there’s still a lot of work to do.

And yes, the mandate specified water had to be tested after sitting in the pipes between 8-18 hours. A worst case scenario is still important to test…the kid who gets dropped off to school first every day and immediately needs a drink of water still matters.