Imagine a time when plumbers thought lead was amazing. It’s soft, easy to bend, and lasts forever—perfect for water pipes, right? Well, not exactly. Many cities and homes built before the 1980s used lead pipes or lead-based solder to join copper pipes together. That’s the original source—the pipe itself.
Here’s the kicker: the water doesn’t immediately grab the lead. It’s more like a slow, chemical romance where the water needs the right mood to pull the metal loose. Acidic or low-mineral water acts like a gentle acid, slowly nibbling at the pipe’s inner surface. Think of it like a soda straw left in a fizzy drink—eventually, tiny bits come off.
