New York City drinking water is lead-free when it is delivered from the City’s upstate reservoirs and distribution system. However, water can absorb lead from solder, fixtures, and pipes found in the plumbing of some buildings or homes. Therefore, it is possible that there is lead in your home’s drinking water and that it is at higher levels than other homes in your area. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home’s water, you may wish to have your water tested.
Solution:
Lead does not have any color, odor, or taste. In order to test your water for lead, request a free test kit through the Free Residential Lead Testing Program. The Department of Environmental Protection will send you a test kit with instructions for collecting a sample of your drinking water. The kit comes with a pre-paid label to send it to a laboratory for lead analysis, and the results will be mailed to you within 30 days of the sample being tested.
Run Your Tap Until it’s Cold
Run your tap for at least 30 seconds, until the water is noticeably colder, before using it for drinking, cooking or making baby formula any time the water in a faucet has stood for several hours.
Use Cold Tap Water for Drinking, Cooking and Making Baby Formula
Never use hot tap water for drinking, cooking or making baby formula and baby cereal. Lead can dissolve more easily in hot tap water.
Clean Your Faucet Screens
Sometimes lead and sediment can build up on the individual screens at your faucets. To clean them, periodically take off the faucet strainers from all taps and run the water for 3 to 5 minutes.
– Joshua
