Lead Too much lead in the human body can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system and red blood cells. This NebGuide discusses practices to address lead in a domestic water supply. Options Summary Related Publications Lead in Drinking Water Small quantities of lead can be a serious health concern, especially for children. Lead rarely occurs naturally in water.
Most lead contamination takes place at some point in the water delivery system.
This occurs as a result of corrosion, the reaction between the water and lead in parts of the water delivery system. Materials in the water delivery system which may contain lead include service connections, pipes, solder and brass fixtures. Softening naturally hard water with an ion exchange water softening unit does not appreciably change the corrosivity of the water, resulting in little, if any, effect on the water's ability to dissolve lead. Lead in drinking water from plumbing or fixtures is most often a problem in either very old or very new houses. Through the early 1900's it was common in some areas of the country to use lead pipes for interior plumbing.