Although galvanized (zinc-coated) pipe is still considered to be a safe transport material for drinking water, there are some potential health concerns if the water supply is corrosive due to its acidic condition (low pH). ... The primary drinking water standards for lead and cadmium are 0.015 and 0.005 mg/L, respectively.
The shift to copper happened as galvanized pipes raised many health concerns. As your drinking water passes through these pipes, ingesting these impurities was a prime concern. The following are the main problems associated with drinking water.
When these pipes are dipped in hot zinc for galvanizing, it should be noted that naturally occurring zinc is not pure. This means that the pipe is susceptible to added impurities like lead.
Additionally, if there has been any corrosion, then there is a chance that bits of lead have been trapped in these pipes. This lead can leak into your drinking water and cause anemia and fatigue. It can also aggravate kidney and brain damage.
Galvanized water pipes are prone to restrictions on the waterline. This can result in low water pressure throughout your house.
Since these pipes can corrode with time, they are bound to leak iron into your water supply. This iron will cause your water supply to be discolored. You can notice this via stains on your porcelain as well.
