EPA recommends letting tap water run for how many seconds before using it?

EPA recommends letting tap water run for how many seconds before using it?

• A. 15-30 seconds
• B. 30-60 seconds
• C. 60-90 seconds
• D. 5-10 seconds

Answer: (B)

Flushing the tap helps reduce exposure to lead by replacing water that has been sitting in lead-containing pipes and fixtures with fresher water from the main. Letting the cold tap run for about 30 to 60 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking lowers the amount of lead that could be present in the water you actually consume. It’s important to use cold water for drinking and cooking, since hot water can pull more lead from pipes. If the plumbing is long or water has been stagnant for a while, you might flush closer to a minute, but the usual practice is within this 30–60 second window.

Flushing the tap helps reduce exposure to lead by replacing water that has been sitting in lead-containing pipes and fixtures with fresher water from the main. Letting the cold tap run for about 30 to 60 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking lowers the amount of lead that could be present in the water you actually consume. It’s important to use cold water for drinking and cooking, since hot water can pull more lead from pipes. If the plumbing is long or water has been stagnant for a while, you might flush closer to a minute, but the usual practice is within this 30–60 second window.