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I had no idea it was unsafe to drink from green garden hoses until it was pointed out by an RV salesman trying to sell me a white hose for potable water-- in my

I had no idea it was unsafe to drink from green garden hoses until it was pointed out by an RV salesman trying to sell me a white hose for potable water-- in my 20s. I thought he was full of shit, but I was proven wrong. Hot water lines can't be the only loophole causing lead ingestion.

hinkley 3y ago
When I moved I did a search not only for garden hose without lead but also without phthalates and BPA. There are a few goodun’s out there. Expensive though, but I also have hose connections that don’t leak because tolerances and decent seals.
- georgeg23 3y ago
  In particular I would recommend the ELEY Garden Hose
  - greedo 3y ago
    Eley makes really good (but expensive) stuff. It bugs me that they moved their production overseas though. I could understand if they were selling a $5 sprayer or $15 hose reel. I think they could still make a good profit if their stuff was made back in Nebraska.
    - hinkley 3y ago
      Water Right is about a third of the cost. I've left mine out in the sun for three years for one hose, four for the other. The 4 yo one is just started to get a hint of bleaching this year.
  - hinkley 3y ago
    Good luck with Water Wright. They come in long runs and aren't very heavy. Occasional problems with inventory, but do you really need the red one?
jhallenworld 3y ago
Interesting, I had no idea (I thought only the fittings would have lead, but it's the hose material): https://toxicfreefuture.org/press-room/new-study-rates-best-and-worst-garden-hoses/ https://toxicfreefuture.org/press-room/new-study-rates-best-...
- rightbyte 3y ago
  Dear mother no why? Why does the Home Depot garden hoose have 6.8% led in it ... All these small environmental dangers add up. And they are so hard to keep track of. I would never suspect a water hoose to contain led. Let alone 6.8%.
  - jstarfish 3y ago
    Yep. The best part is: I loved drinking from green hoses as a kid (maybe it explains a lot about me now). Even when the hose was left in the sun, the water always tasted like a cool mountain spring...because lead has a sweet taste to it. I assume this also explains why small children eat leaded paint chips, and dogs love puddles of [unleaded] antifreeze runoff (they say they changed the formula, but it looks and smells inviting to me). The dangers really are hard to keep track of. It's too easy to blame the consumer (didn't you read the packaging for your new garden hose?). Now the threat is plastics, which requires a materials science degree to understand as a consumer.
  - nate_meurer 3y ago
    For decades, lead compounds have been used as processing stabilizers in PVC, which has spread the shit everywhere. Hoses, electrical cords, and vinyl window blinds have historically been big sources. Things started changing in the 2000's when companies started seeking compliance with E.U REACH and RoHS regulations. Garden hoses are now largely lead free, as are blinds, but electrical cords have taken longer to switch over.
    - supertrope 3y ago
      Damnit. I thought the Proposition 65 warnings on Christmas lights and Ethernet cables were just crying wolf.
bluedino 3y ago
Hose water is delicious

hinkley 3y ago

When I moved I did a search not only for garden hose without lead but also without phthalates and BPA. There are a few goodun’s out there. Expensive though, but I also have hose connections that don’t leak because tolerances and decent seals.

georgeg23 3y ago
In particular I would recommend the ELEY Garden Hose
- greedo 3y ago
  Eley makes really good (but expensive) stuff. It bugs me that they moved their production overseas though. I could understand if they were selling a $5 sprayer or $15 hose reel. I think they could still make a good profit if their stuff was made back in Nebraska.
  - hinkley 3y ago
    Water Right is about a third of the cost. I've left mine out in the sun for three years for one hose, four for the other. The 4 yo one is just started to get a hint of bleaching this year.
- hinkley 3y ago
  Good luck with Water Wright. They come in long runs and aren't very heavy. Occasional problems with inventory, but do you really need the red one?

jhallenworld 3y ago

Interesting, I had no idea (I thought only the fittings would have lead, but it's the hose material): https://toxicfreefuture.org/press-room/new-study-rates-best-and-worst-garden-hoses/ https://toxicfreefuture.org/press-room/new-study-rates-best-...

rightbyte 3y ago
Dear mother no why? Why does the Home Depot garden hoose have 6.8% led in it ... All these small environmental dangers add up. And they are so hard to keep track of. I would never suspect a water hoose to contain led. Let alone 6.8%.
- jstarfish 3y ago
  Yep. The best part is: I loved drinking from green hoses as a kid (maybe it explains a lot about me now). Even when the hose was left in the sun, the water always tasted like a cool mountain spring...because lead has a sweet taste to it. I assume this also explains why small children eat leaded paint chips, and dogs love puddles of [unleaded] antifreeze runoff (they say they changed the formula, but it looks and smells inviting to me). The dangers really are hard to keep track of. It's too easy to blame the consumer (didn't you read the packaging for your new garden hose?). Now the threat is plastics, which requires a materials science degree to understand as a consumer.
- nate_meurer 3y ago
  For decades, lead compounds have been used as processing stabilizers in PVC, which has spread the shit everywhere. Hoses, electrical cords, and vinyl window blinds have historically been big sources. Things started changing in the 2000's when companies started seeking compliance with E.U REACH and RoHS regulations. Garden hoses are now largely lead free, as are blinds, but electrical cords have taken longer to switch over.
  - supertrope 3y ago
    Damnit. I thought the Proposition 65 warnings on Christmas lights and Ethernet cables were just crying wolf.

bluedino 3y ago

Hose water is delicious