Is There Lead in Your Delmarva Tap Water?

In the U.S., 14-20% of lead exposure is attributed to drinking water. Municipalities have taken action over the past 30 years to ban lead solder, reduce corrosivity and remove lead from brass faucets and water meters, and these measures have significantly helped exposure issues.

In Salisbury and across the Delmarva region, water testing shows no detectable lead levels in the municipal supply (0 ppm at the 90th percentile). This indicates that the water leaving the treatment facility meets all regulatory standards. However, lead exposure is not always tied to the water source itself.

Lead can still enter drinking water after it leaves the treatment plant, depending on the plumbing inside a home.

Studies show that even very small amounts of lead exposure can impact neurological development, especially in children. Because of this, even low or non-detect levels in municipal testing do not completely eliminate risk at the tap.

The most common way lead enters drinking water is through corrosion of plumbing materials, not the water supply itself.

In Delmarva homes, especially older properties, this can include:

Homes built before modern plumbing standards may have a higher risk, particularly if pipes have aged or corroded over time.

Even if the water entering your home is compliant, it can still pick up lead as it travels through your plumbing system.

When water sits in pipes for extended periods, such as overnight or during the workday, the potential for lead exposure can increase.

Water quality testing in Salisbury shows:

This means the municipal system is performing as expected and meeting all federal and state guidelines.

However, these results reflect system-wide testing and do not account for individual household plumbing conditions.

Because lead risk is highly dependent on pipe materials, fixtures, and water usage patterns, two homes on the same street can have very different results at the tap.

The best way to reduce the risk of lead exposure is to understand your home’s specific water conditions.

Simple steps can help lower potential exposure:

However, the most effective way to know what is happening in your water is through testing.

A water test can determine whether lead is present at your tap, even if municipal testing shows non-detect levels.

In addition to its once widespread use, and continued use in some plumbing fittings and solder, lead is virtually undetectable in water. Since you can’t see, taste, or smell it, prolonged exposure can be common. Lead in drinking water is especially harmful for young children and pregnant women, but is not safe for anyone to consume, in any concentration.

For children, the effects of consuming lead-contaminated water are especially high. Once consumed, lead remains in our bodies or ‘bioaccumulates’, as we can’t flush the contaminant from our system. Once there, lead can cause serious behavioral and cognitive problems for children, and over time it can lead to:

Lead also crosses the placenta, so it’s especially important for pregnant women to avoid drinking water contaminated with lead. In addition to harming the mother, it can cause stunted fetal growth and premature birth.

For the average adult, lead exposure from water can cause heart and cardiovascular issues, reduce kidney function, and contribute to reproductive problems.

The degree and severity of these issues depends on how much lead you’ve been exposed to, and how much is stored in your body, though governing health authorities like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) caution that no amount of lead is safe.

Even though Salisbury’s water system reports no detectable lead at the municipal level, many homeowners still want added protection at the tap.

Culligan of the Delmarva Peninsula provides solutions designed to address water quality concerns inside the home, where municipal treatment cannot reach.

Sharp Water Culligan offers:

Because lead risk is often tied to your home’s pipes rather than the city’s water supply, testing your water is the most important first step. Sharp Water Culligan of Salisbury can help identify potential concerns and recommend a solution that gives you more confidence in your drinking water.

Because lead exposure can vary from one home to another, testing is one of the most important first steps.

A professional water test can help determine:

The Flint Water Crisis began in 2014 when a change in water source and improper treatment caused lead to leach from aging pipes into the drinking water supply.

While the immediate crisis has since been addressed and water quality has improved significantly, the situation remains one of the most well-known examples of how changes in water chemistry and infrastructure can impact drinking water safety.

Today, Flint is often referenced as a case study in the importance of corrosion control, infrastructure maintenance, and ongoing water quality monitoring.

The final tally on the Flint Water Crisis, which included e.coli bacteria, THMs, lead, and a Legionnaire’s disease outbreak, resulted in 6,000 to 12,000 children exposed to lead and a slew of lawsuits, investigations, resignations and criminal indictments.