The History of Lead in Plumbing

Now that we are on the topic of piping - from copper piping to galvanized steel piping - let's learn a little more about a type of piping that your home may have and that can cause serious damage to your health and those of your loved ones. This type of piping would be lead piping.

There is a close connection between lead and plumbing. In fact, the chemical symbol for lead is Pb, which stands for plumbum. Indeed, there is a strong connection between lead and plumbing!

Lead was used extensively in ancient Rome. It was used in plates, wine vessels, and, of course, in water piping. It was even used as a preservative for wine. It was even used in cosmetic products and even condiments.

Lead continued to be used - in part because of it being inexpensive and in part because of it being malleable - for lead piping. It was used in the American colonies and then in to bring water to homes in the United States. Up to 70 percent of urban areas used lead pipes by the 1900's. It was until the 1920s, however, that efforts were carried out to ban lead.

Lead piping was used in underground water service lines between public mains and private homes. Thus, as a result, a large number of homes today will still have lead loops in water service lines. In order to see if your home has lead piping, check the service pipe as it enters the house.

If you see a dull gray loop of pipe that joins galvanized piping with seamless bulging joints, you have most likely found lead, and it is definitely recommended to remove the lead pipes.

If, in contrast, you see galvanized steel joints with visible threads and not the seamless, bulging joints, then you most likely do not have lead.