Do:
- Flush: Anytime you use tap water for drinking, cooking, preparing baby formula, etc., you should always flush the tap, especially if the water has been sitting in the pipes for six hours or longer. Once you turn on the faucet you should let the cold water run for 15 to 30 seconds if you have been using the water a lot for showers or toilet flushing. If you haven’t used the water much, you should flush it for two minutes until it is as cold as it can get. Warm or hot water can contain higher levels of lead so you should use cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula. You can also fill a pitcher with water after you have flushed it and store it in the refrigerator for later.
- Clean your faucet: You should be cleaning your faucet strainers often to get rid of lead particles and sediment, which can build up on the strainers over time. When you take the strainers off to clean, remember to keep the faucet running to flush loose lead solder particles out of the pipes as well.
- Plumbing: You should test the water’s lead levels and clean the strainers after you’ve had any plumbing work done at your house. You might also consider replacing the lead water service or lead pipes in your house, especially if you live in an older house.
- Water Filters: You can install a water filter that is certified to remove lead. Be sure to change cartridges regularly, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. This is a list of filters that reduce the lead levels in water.
Don’t:
- Boil Water: Boiling water will not remove the levels of lead in the water. In fact, hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead.