Is your Drinking Water unSafe?

You have probably heard about the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan.  But, do you understand the cause of the water crisis that has made the drinking water unsafe.  The water crisis exposed thousands of residents to lead-laced water.  So, how did a small town of 100,000 people become exposed to unsafe drinking water?

When the drinking water was safe:

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Flint used to purchase their water from Detroit, which treated their water with orthophosphate, a chemical that coats water pipes as water flows through them to prevent lead from leaching into the water supply.

The Water Supply changed:

Flint switched their water supply to the Flint River in 2014 to save money.  The city did not use corrosion control and thus, the lead was not prevented from entering the water.  The river was found to contain eight times more chloride than Detroit’s water, and this chemical is highly corrosive to metals.  Flint residents have old lead service water lines connected to their homes.  The water from the river ate away at the inside lining of the pipes and entered the water supply.  Lead is a colorless substance, so it’s not obvious to residents.

Why The Drinking Water is unSafe:

The drinking water carried significant amounts of lead, which can be especially damaging to children in their developmental years.  In October 2015, Flint switched back to the Detroit water supply, but the water is still unsafe to drink.

What should you do if you suspect Lead?

Call your local county health department in Indianapolis or the state department of environmental protection to have your water evaluated for lead.  It should be analyzed by a certified laboratory, not someone giving a free analysis to sell you some type of treatment system.  Lead poisoning is harmful to your health, and high levels in a child can result in convulsions, major neurological damage, organ failure, coma and death.  Lead’s primary source is drinking water through piping in household plumbing.  If you suspect your home’s pipes are old and may contain lead, you should call your Plumber for an inspection.

Call Carter’s My Plumber if you have any questions about your drinking water:  317-859-9999