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For plumbing specifically you _also_ have to worry about every link in the chain from your house to the water source. Perhaps non-intuitively just knowing if th

For plumbing specifically you _also_ have to worry about every link in the chain from your house to the water source. Perhaps non-intuitively just knowing if there are lead pipes because they can develop a protective sediment layer that prevents the lead from touching the water. Anecdotally, we had a major city water line project in our neighborhood that _raised_ our lead levels because it disturbed that sediment protection. The only real solution is testing and filtering at point of use. But even filtering is hard because most water filters sold are for flavor not for lead.

willis936 5y ago
The right solution is installing a reverse osmosis filter system (which includes mechanical and charcoal filters) at the house or tap level. Water's not one of those things people should cheap out on. We, as a society, can afford to not have this be an issue. We're not quite to that realization yet. To be clear: I'm not saying the burden of cost should be solely put on renters/homeowners.
- Cd00d 5y ago
  Can you go into this in a bit of detail? I thought reverse osmosis water wasn't great to drink, because it's essentially de-ionized water. So, the water has no choice but to rip ions out of your cells. But, I've never looked into biology enough to understand. I did work in a lab back in the day where one of the students was filling his water bottle from the DI tap, because he preferred the taste. He didn't drop dead or anything. I clearly have just enough of the details to not understand.
  - tguvot 5y ago
    RO systems usually do not include DI filter.
  - cryptoquick 5y ago
    Some RO systems include an alkalinization / re-mineralization stage. I use this one: https://www.expresswater.com/pages/ro-alkaline-uv https://www.expresswater.com/pages/ro-alkaline-uv
Gibbon1 5y ago
I'm specious that any sediment/crust that formed in an old water system may contain very high levels of lead. I think that may be what happened in Flint MI. Changed the PH of the water and all that lead started leaching back into the water.

willis936 5y ago

The right solution is installing a reverse osmosis filter system (which includes mechanical and charcoal filters) at the house or tap level. Water's not one of those things people should cheap out on. We, as a society, can afford to not have this be an issue. We're not quite to that realization yet. To be clear: I'm not saying the burden of cost should be solely put on renters/homeowners.

Cd00d 5y ago
Can you go into this in a bit of detail? I thought reverse osmosis water wasn't great to drink, because it's essentially de-ionized water. So, the water has no choice but to rip ions out of your cells. But, I've never looked into biology enough to understand. I did work in a lab back in the day where one of the students was filling his water bottle from the DI tap, because he preferred the taste. He didn't drop dead or anything. I clearly have just enough of the details to not understand.
- tguvot 5y ago
  RO systems usually do not include DI filter.
- cryptoquick 5y ago
  Some RO systems include an alkalinization / re-mineralization stage. I use this one: https://www.expresswater.com/pages/ro-alkaline-uv https://www.expresswater.com/pages/ro-alkaline-uv

Gibbon1 5y ago

I'm specious that any sediment/crust that formed in an old water system may contain very high levels of lead. I think that may be what happened in Flint MI. Changed the PH of the water and all that lead started leaching back into the water.