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Plumbosolvency
Here’s a
new word - and it comes with a health warning!
Plumbosolvency happens when water dissolves heavy
metals. Left still for several hours, water in a pipe
fitting can accumulate small amounts of lead and other heavy
metals which can then end up in your drinking glass.
Although
the health risk is small it is cumulative, so the Ministry
of Health recommends that you tip out that first 500 ml of
water from the cold tap in the morning and after returning
home at the end of a long day. Boiling the water does not
reduce the risk.
But don’t
tip the water down the drain. Even though it’s a small
amount, we should be conserving water at this time of year,
so pour it onto your pot plants (but not your vege patch) or
save it for washing dishes (which you then drain and wipe).
You’ll
find more information here
Contact:
Hugh Blake-Manson, Water Asset Manager, ph 3472 800.
