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You can find more information about lead from the St. Mary’s County Health Department and Center for Disease Control and Prevention at https://smchd.org/lead/

Lead is a material that occurs naturally and has many uses in residential and industrial settings. Therefore, there is a risk that we may be exposed to it at work or at home. Previously, lead was thought of as a good material for water pipes due to its soft nature and flexibility. Because of this historical practice, some homes may have water service lines, plumbing, kitchen fixtures, or bathroom fixtures that contain lead. The service line is the pipe that runs from the water main to the home’s internal plumbing. Lead service lines can be a major source of lead contamination in water. Other potential sources of lead include galvanized iron pipes (lead particles can attach to the surface of galvanized pipes. Over time, the particles can enter your drinking water, causing elevated lead levels), lead goose necks and pigtails which are shorter pipes that connect the service line to the main, lead-based paint, dust, jewelry, and some plastics. L Line: The The illustration below contains more information on these potential lead sources and where these sources may be located in your home and plumbing system.

Anyone can experience adverse health effects from lead exposure, but infants and children are at the greatest risk. Potential health impacts to infants and children include decreases in IQ and attention span, as well as the development or worsening of learning and behavioral problems. Those that are exposed as children may also face problems with decreased bone and tissue growth, as well as anemia. The children of women who have been exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can experience these same health effects. While adults are less at risk for adverse health effects than children, lead exposure may still be harmful. Adults that are exposed to lead can have increased risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, and nervous system or kidney disorders. Lead exposure in adults has also been linked to dysfunction in the digestive and reproductive systems. Young children, infants, and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults. A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant effect on a child. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that public health actions be initiated when the level of lead in a child’s blood is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) or more

Below are recommended actions that a person may take, separately or in combination, if they are concerned about lead in their drinking water. The list is not intended to be exhaustive or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead from drinking water. Check your plumbing. Verify that all faucets and fixtures in your home are lead-free. Clean out your faucet’s screens (aerators) regularly. Know your service line material. Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, making baby formula and preparing food. Only use cold tap water for drinking and preparing food. Use only cold water for Boiling water does not remove lead from water. Hot water is more likely to contain lead than cold water if your home’s plumbing contains lead. Consider using a water filter. Use a filter certified to remove lead and know when it’s time to replace the filter. Flush your taps and clean your aerator Run the water from infrequently used taps for at least 5 minutes prior to cooking with it or drinking it. Before drinking, flush your pipes by running your tap, taking a shower, watering plants, doing laundry or a load of dishes. Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water. Replace your service lines and interior plumbing. MetCom strongly encourages residents to identify and replace any lead pipes or plumbing materials serving their home, especially lead service lines. Help us update our records. If a customer initiates replacement of their private lead service line, MetCom requests that you notify us immediately at lead.and.copper@metcom.org so that our inventory can be updated. Have your water tested. Contact your water utility to have your water tested and to learn more about the lead levels in your drinking water. Learn if you have a lead service line. Contact your water utility or a licensed plumber to determine if the pipe that connects your home to the water main (called a service line) is made from lead. Run your water. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, and the length of the lead service line. Residents should contact their water utility for recommendations about flushing times in their community. Learn about construction in your neighborhood. Be aware of any construction or maintenance work that could disturb your lead service line. Construction may cause more lead to be released from a lead service line. If you are concerned about your family’s risk of being exposed to lead, the EPA recommends using a pitcher filter or point-of-contact water filter certified by an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited certified to reduce lead and getting your tap water tested for lead. A list of Maryland certified drinking water laboratories is located here. You can also get your water tested for lead by the Metropolitan Commission by contacting Customer Service at (703) 737-7400 ext. (102). Test kits cost $15-$20 for the first kit and may be less for every following kit should you wish to perform any additional sampling. Once your order is processed, you will receive a test kit with instructions for how to take the water sample and return it to MetCom for testing.

The EPA has developed a Protect Your Tap guide that will help you determine if you have a lead service line bringing water into your home. It uses pictures, step-by-step directions to identify lead service lines, provides tips to reduce lead exposure, information on testing your water, and resources to learn more. Scan the QR Code to begin. The Protect Your Tap online guide: • Displays on handheld devices, enabling users to make visual comparison. • Is a step-by-step method that walks through how to identify lead pipes and other lead sources in drinking water. • Recommends residents check with their water utility regarding the pipes bringing water into their homes. • Recommends residents have their water tested by a certified lab. • Provides resources about lead service line removal and reducing exposure to lead in drinking water.