Everything You Need to Know About Heavy Metals in New Hampshire Drinking Water

TL;DR: Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury can contaminate your drinking water through natural sources, industrial pollution, or old plumbing. These metals pose serious health risks, but testing your water and using effective filtration systems like reverse osmosis or activated carbon removes contaminants.

When you think about clean drinking water, heavy metals probably aren’t the first contaminants that come to mind. However, metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium can easily find their way into your water supply. These substances, while naturally occurring, are linked to health risks when consumed in excess. Today, we’re taking a look at where heavy metals come from, their effects, and how to remove them to keep your water safe.

What Are Heavy Metals, and How Do They Get Into Your Water?

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that, at certain levels, can become toxic. In drinking water, the most concerning heavy metals include lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. They can enter your water supply via:

• Natural Sources: They often seep into groundwater from surrounding soil or rock formations. In New Hampshire, arsenic is a common concern due to its natural abundance in the region.
• Industrial Pollution: Factories, mining operations, and industrial runoff can release heavy metals into nearby water sources.
• Aging Infrastructure: Old pipes, solder, and plumbing fixtures made of lead or other metals can leach contaminants into your water over time.

Even if your water looks clear and tastes fine, it could still contain harmful levels of heavy metals. Testing your water regularly is the only way to know for sure.

Health Risks of Heavy Metals in NH Drinking Water

Exposure to heavy metals can have serious long-term health effects. The risks depend on the type and concentration of the metal, as well as how long you’ve been exposed. A few of the most common health concerns include:

• Harm to children: Lead exposure can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
• Organ and Blood Concerns: In adults, lead increases the risk of kidney damage and high blood pressure.
• Cancer and Cardiovascular Issues: Long-term arsenic exposure has been linked to cancers of the skin, bladder, and lungs, as well as cardiovascular issues. Cadmium is also associated with kidney damage and bone demineralization, particularly with long-term exposure.
• Nervous System: Even low levels of mercury exposure can damage the nervous system, especially in pregnant women and young children.

How to Test for Heavy Metals in NH Water

If you suspect heavy metals might be present in your water, the first step is to test it. While at-home water testing kits are available, they’re not always reliable for detecting metals at low concentrations. Instead, consider having your water analyzed by a certified lab for accurate results. NH Tap offers free water testing to NH residents.

Testing for heavy metals in water typically checks for:

• Lead levels
• Arsenic concentration
• Cadmium presence
• Mercury traces

Once you have the results, you’ll know exactly which metals are in your water and at what concentrations. This information is essential for choosing the right treatment method.

Effective Filtration Methods for Heavy Metals

Not all water filters are designed to remove heavy metals. It’s important to choose the right system based on your water’s specific contaminants. Some of the most effective options include:

• Reverse Osmosis Systems: RO systems force water through a semi-permeable membrane, removing up to 99% of heavy metals like lead and arsenic.
• Activated Carbon Filters: Carbon filtration is excellent for removing lead and mercury, making it a common choice for countertop or under-sink filters.
• Ion Exchange Systems: These systems replace harmful metal ions with harmless ones, effectively removing contaminants like cadmium and lead.
• Distillation Units: Water distillers boil water and condense the steam, leaving metals and other impurities behind.

If you’re unsure which system is right for your needs, consult a water quality expert to guide you.

Preventing Heavy Metal Contamination

While filtration is an effective solution, prevention is always better. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of heavy metals contaminating your water:

• Replace any lead or galvanized steel plumbing pipes with modern, lead-free materials.
• If you live near factories or mining operations, be vigilant about testing your water regularly.
• Even if you don’t currently have heavy metal contamination, a filtration system can act as a safeguard.
• If water has been sitting in your pipes for hours, let it run for a few minutes before drinking or cooking with it.

Taking these proactive steps can help protect your household from the risks of heavy metals in NH drinking water.

Don’t Wait to Keep Your Water Safe

Heavy metals in drinking water may not always be visible, but their effects can be devastating to your health. Serious contaminants require immediate attention, whether they stem from natural sources, industrial pollution, or old plumbing. By testing your NH water and investing in the right water filtration for heavy metals, you can make sure it’s safe to drink.