Being from Indianapolis, Indiana, the city life is not a new concept to me. As a part of the city lifestyle, water contamination is quite possible to occur. A commonly known intruder in many water systems is lead.
Lead is a natural and normal element found in the Earth’s crust and though it has some positive effects on our environment, it is known infamously for the toxins it brings to both humans and animals through its distribution in drinking water. Effects of the lead may be both long and short-term, in consideration of the amount ingested. Depending on where the water comes from, meaning by lake, river, etc, there are different minerals and other potential compounds found. Short-term effects include growth delays in both physical and mental development in babies or younger children, damage to red blood cell chemistry, possible defects in hear and learning abilities, and may increase blood pressure for some adults. More consequential, the long-term effects range from kidney disease, cancer, or even death, depending on how much lead has been ingested. Overall, the harmful effects from lead are found predominantly in higher amounts in young children and pregnant women, making them more susceptible to the element.
In most cases of lead exposure, the element may come from lead pipes or may even be found in copper pipes with the lead connecting “solders” or brass faucets. As the water flows through these pipings, the water picks up the potentially harmful lead exposures, adding it to the total water solution. The majority of the water utilized in the Indianapolis area comes from the White River or White River North. From there, the river water is treated at the T.W. Moses treatment plant where the unwanted contaminants, including bacteria and pesticides, are extracted (IndyWater). Of course, due to the regulations by the IDEM or the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, water quality reports are taken on an annual basis, tracking any known or unknown substance. Quality water reports for the Indianapolis and Morgan County areas have been recorded from the years of 2011 to 2017 thus far. The reports show a random trend of fluctuations, both increasing and decreasing from year to year. The lead found was measured by ppb (points per billion) from 10 ppb to 1.3 ppb, hoping the overall max to be about 15 ppb (Citizens Energy Group). Though even with little lead exposure, Indianapolis is known for having hard water, meaning that there are dissolved calcium, iron salt, and magnesium particles found in the water. The hardness range for the city water is on average between 200-350 milligrams per liter (IndyWater). Due to this, many Hoosier families invest in a water softener, ridding of the additional factors and improving the overall quality of the water.
Surprisingly, recent data studies have found that the newer the building, the higher the risk for lead poisoning due to its lead solders, where most lead contamination is found. Most fixtures that have contaminated surrounding areas have been found to contain 8% or less lead in them (Smith). Looking for signs such as checking your main shutoff valve for softness, scratching the valve with a key, for example, tests to see if there was any possible chance of contamination. Corrosion and non-plastic plumbing installed before the year 1986 also may have a percentage of lead contamination. Annual tests are necessary to ensure the safety of yourself and your many loved ones. With higher amounts of lead ppb, the more harmful it will be to those who drink greater amounts of the water. From 2011-2017, the amount of lead found has fluctuated from high to low ranges, not keeping a consistent pattern.
Keeping the ppb lead levels at a lower number will allow a safer community and home for many living in the Indianapolis area. By studying what lead is and how it could possibly affect our daily lives, our knowledge of the topic has grown rapidly and can be utilized in the future. Why does the lead ppb in Indianapolis differ so drastically from year to year in comparison to other cities nearby?