According to the Mason County Press, there may be lead in some homes in the area, especially if the home has lead pipes.  As the article correctly notes, annual testing at the municipality level doesn’t show the quality at individual homes.  (This is of course true wherever you live.)

Friendofwater.com adds that you can know a great deal from your communities annual water quality report however, and you can see that by searching for “town state annual water quality report.”  But lead levels can be higher, particularly as noted, if your home has iron pipes.

Children and pregnant women at most at risk, but anyone is exposed to health risks from too much lead.

The Press recommends that you get your water tested for lead.  As they note, for the best results, the EPA recommends sending your sample to a certified lab in your area.  We agree completely with the EPA on this topic.

Here are some things that the Mason County Press recommends that you can do at home:

• Use the cold-water tap — it has lower levels of lead than warm water.
• Flush your pipes by running your tap for at least one minute until the water becomes cold if it hasn’t been used for the last six hours.
• Replace lead plumbing pipes. According to the EPA, lead is a dull gray metal that can be easily scratched.
• Use bottled or distilled water.
• Use a filter certified to remove lead from your water.

Friendsofwater.com adds that it is our opinion that you should not drink bottled water or distilled water over an extended time.

We commend the Mason County Press for alerting the readership about this health risk.