Which factor is NOT listed as affecting lead in water?

Which factor is NOT listed as affecting lead in water?

• A. Color of water
• B. Age
• C. Corrosiveness
• D. Time lead has been in water

Answer: (A)

Lead in drinking water is driven by how the water interacts with the plumbing and materials it touches. The factors that influence this are the age of the plumbing (older systems are more likely to contribute lead), how corrosive the water is (more corrosive water dissolves metals more readily), and how long the water sits in contact with lead-containing materials (longer contact can lead to more lead being dissolved). The color of the water does not drive the chemical processes that release lead from pipes, so it isn’t considered a factor in predicting lead levels. That’s why color is the one that doesn’t belong.

Lead in drinking water is driven by how the water interacts with the plumbing and materials it touches. The factors that influence this are the age of the plumbing (older systems are more likely to contribute lead), how corrosive the water is (more corrosive water dissolves metals more readily), and how long the water sits in contact with lead-containing materials (longer contact can lead to more lead being dissolved). The color of the water does not drive the chemical processes that release lead from pipes, so it isn’t considered a factor in predicting lead levels. That’s why color is the one that doesn’t belong.