Aussies are being urged to run their water taps for 30 seconds

Maka · 25-11-2018, 07:02 PM

Just a heads up for the AFF community, this fresh link is about fears of lead poisoning from your houses plumbing system -

https://au.news.yahoo.com/amphtml/au...001417732.html

Any hints, tips or thoughts would be appreciated, just wondering what minimum water filter spec would help alleviate this serious problem?

cheers, Maka

naddis01 · 25-11-2018, 07:10 PM

It's no problem here in Broken Hill. Everyone is already lead affected anyway.

Seriously though, if you are worried about it go and get tested. It is a simple blood test. If you have elevated levels then you can look to find the cause.

**aussiblue** · 25-11-2018, 07:47 PM

And on the same day we get this Science Alert article:
https://www.sciencealert.com/here-ar...and-the-planet

I'll just drink beer and avoid the dilemma.

simon varley · 25-11-2018, 07:59 PM

it's sunrise. I'd give it as much credence as any of their other so called journalism.

**roddy1960** · 25-11-2018, 09:00 PM

With our chlorine laden crap coming out of our taps here it's a must anyway .

We are more or less forced to use bore water with big iron content . My dog
water bowls were taking no time at all to get a green tinge caused by damage to plumbing so for the past year I get drinking/cooking water via the Hartz 5 litre bottle method at $4.50 a time . I bought a new kettle about three months ago and fill it up that way too .. God only knows what it does to hot water cylinders ..

Our water is a big talking point here .. I have complained but have got nowhere
Although I don't drink the crap I have to use it for laundry , washing up and showering unfortunately .

**aussiblue** · 25-11-2018, 09:15 PM

Quote:

My dog
water bowls were taking no time at all to get a green tinge caused by damage to plumbing

It's more often algae. You need fresh, cool aerated water and the bowls scrubbed clean with a curly whirly steel pad each day.

vztrt · 25-11-2018, 09:31 PM

From the report itself. As usual commercial tv overblowing it

Quote:

Reducing exposure to lead in water
In Australia, elevated blood lead levels in people are rarely found to be related to lead exposure
from drinking water. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
most studies show that exposure to lead-contaminated water alone would not be likely to elevate
blood lead levels in most adults. Risk will vary, however, depending on the individual, the
circumstances, and the amount of water consumed. For example, infants who drink formula
prepared with lead-contaminated water may be at a higher risk because of the large volume of
water they consume relative to their body size.
enHealth supports every effort to reduce the level of lead in drinking water in Australia from
plumbing products. enHealth is engaging with Australian plumbing authorities to ensure plumbing
products in contact with drinking water do not adversely affect water quality and people’s health.
The installation of plumbing fittings in Australia is overseen by State and Territory plumbing
regulatory agencies. These agencies are now collectively working to address the issue of lead in
plumbing products at the national level, through the Australian Building Codes Board. This
includes research to determine the extent that plumbing products may contribute to lead levels in
drinking water in excess of the health-related guideline value in the Australian Drinking Water
Guidelines.

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&s...lLCVoWK3VmNA8y

Streets · 29-11-2018, 03:52 PM

I'm more concerned with all the firefighting chemicals the ADF has been contaminating water sources with for the past 50 years

danzvtil · 01-12-2018, 12:24 AM

What crap, your water already comes through kilometres of manky cast iron,plastic and copper pipes, the little bit at the end will make no difference. This is just another thing to make pensioners scared to get out of bed in the morning.

marty351 · 01-12-2018, 01:49 AM

Plumbers right now...

Tassie f100 · 01-12-2018, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danzvtil

What crap, your water already comes through kilometres of manky cast iron,plastic and copper pipes, the little bit at the end will make no difference. This is just another thing to make pensioners scared to get out of bed in the morning.

Totally agree on the crap part. If we find that a brass tap will probably last for 50 or more years, just how much lead would one be getting in a glass of water. This 30 second thing, well I reckon that much time would have me getting new water from the main in the street every time.

marty351 · 01-12-2018, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Totally agree on the crap part. If we find that a brass tap will probably last for 50 or more years, just how much lead would one be getting in a glass of water. This 30 second thing, well I reckon that much time would have me getting new water from the main in the street every time.

Funny that during water restrictions, news like this was unheard of. Why all of a sudden? And why would lead be used in brass manufacture? Something to do with tin me thinks.

Tassie f100 · 01-12-2018, 07:43 PM

Apparently the brass used in taps contains a very small percentage of lead, but Iv,e seen plenty of taps that must be 40-50 years old and they still liik almost as good as new, so not very much brass gets worn off them

arronm · 02-12-2018, 04:03 AM

about 3% lead. Its for machine-ability.

Pis-ton broke · 02-12-2018, 11:47 AM

running a tap for 30 seconds ever time it gets used isn,t good for water restrictions. i,ve used bottled drinking water for years, i,ll get a filter.

The Yeti · 02-12-2018, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Streets

I'm more concerned with all the firefighting chemicals the ADF has been contaminating water sources with for the past 50 years

This is very real

Houses up the road have been told they can’t eat the eggs their chooks lay because the grassed area they peck on is part of the flood plane that is off a creek that is down street from the raaf base