The Advantages and Disadvantages of Lead Pipes
Plumbing is a significant part of every new building. And these include sewers and water pipes for conveying materials such as waste, water, oil and so on that are essential to our living as humans. The use of lead in plumbing dates back to medieval times and over the years, the plumbing industry has come up with different kinds of pipes. Some of these include PVC pipes, copper pipes, galvanised steel pipes. The one that has generated the most controversy is the lead pipe.
For centuries lead pipes were the norm in the plumbing industry until it was discovered to lead to poisoning and were made illegal in many countries including the United Kingdom. To establish what makes the lead pipes different from others here are some advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Lead Pipes
High Malleability: The malleability of lead makes the pipes flexible. This makes lead pipes withstand various disturbances that may occur underground. Coupled with its cost-effectiveness, this is why most old cities have lead pipes supplying water to all homes from the main water source.
High Ductility and Versatility: The plumbing system is more than pipes. Other parts include the bends, joints, valves, pipe fittings, stubs, which can be moulded or made from lead. This quality makes lead a good metal for plumbing.
Durability and Stability: Lead pipes are long-lasting and are stable. They are resistant to changes due to the weather, hence, do not corrode. Lead is a stable metal, and so, lead pipes are not easily affected by chemicals and household cleaning agents. This makes the lead pipe more suitable for taking waste away from homes and buildings.
Cost-effective: One of the many reasons lead was considered in the making of pipes was its availability and overall cost-effectiveness. Compared to other pipes in use back then, lead pipes were the cheapest and most accessible.
Disadvantages of Lead Pipes
The 'lead' would get the award for the best metal for piping but one reason—lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is also known as Saturnism and Plumbism. You can be infected when you ingest or inhale dangerous amounts of lead usually from your water supply. For lead pipes, this lead exposure happens when the pipe carrying potable water rusts. This could occur in a water distribution system of a city or town referred to as lead service lines or pipes in the plumbing system of a building. It also occurs with some of the copper or brass pipes in a building that has been repaired or soldered with lead.
Though lead is resistant to corrosion, it does rust. And when this happens, it leaches into the water. In some old lead service lines, oxidised metal forms a layer to prevent water from touching the lead. However, this layer can still be broken if the water quality is compromised. Water with low mineral levels and low pH in this case can be referred to as compromised water hence causing lead pipes to corrode faster. Another factor that increases the effect of leaching in lead pipes is hot water which is rather inconvenient for residential buildings where the use of hot water is unavoidable.
Conclusion
The disadvantage of lead pipes is the health implication they may have when consumed at dangerous levels. To prevent this, you should change the lead pipes in your homes. Also, push for the same to be done to service lines to your community if it has not to be done. In the case where it may take a while to change the water supply pipes that serve your home, get a filter. Do not use hot water from your taps. Ensure you allow your taps to run away per time to allow lead that may have the lead build up to flow away.
Ensure you do not drink or cook with lead-contaminated water. However, you can bathe with them as the human skin does not absorb lead. In all, lead pipes are important to the plumbing industry but are not fit for drinking water systems. If you are not sure you have lead pipes in your home or your service lines are lead pipes, you can get a specialist to test the water.
