As galvanized pipes age, the zinc coating erodes which leads to pipes corrosion. When the pipes corrode, lead, which is a dangerous toxin, can build up in the pipes. Take note that galvanized plumbing could possibly pose a serious health hazard. This is true if the pipes are not replaced or updated with safer pipes.
You may not have paid too much attention to the build of your water pipes. Most people don’t. This is why many of these ancient galvanized pipes remain unchanged for decades.
This can pose a serious health risk to you.
Our water supply from the municipality goes through proper water filtration. However, this clean water might pick up contaminants from your water pipe itself as it reaches your taps.
This is why it is important to learn about the problems associated with galvanized pipes and whether it is safe for your drinking water.
Let’s get right to it!
The history of plumbing goes back to the ancient Roman era. That’s right! Water distribution pipes have been around for a very long time now. But back then, the most commonly used material for these pipes was lead. The use of lead continued right up until 1920.
However, once the dangers of lead poisoning were recognized, the industry started looking for alternatives. Therefore, in the years between 1930 to 1960, galvanized steel pipes became a common choice for water pipes. This shift was also due to the low manufacturing costs that came with using galvanized steel.
But as time and technology progressed, people began realizing that galvanized steel, too, had its fair share of problems. These flaws created the need for a new alternative to be introduced to the market.
Galvanized pipes were used extensively for decades across residential as well as commercial buildings. This is why it is still common to find that some of these pipes have never been changed. However, with galvanized pipes, there is a high risk of lead contamination as well as corrosion leaking into your drinking water. The verdict is that galvanized pipes are not at all safe for drinking water, and you should switch to newer copper pipes as soon as possible.
