Lead is a toxic heavy metal, which should tell you right away that it has no business being in your drinking water. Unfortunately, for decades the harmful effects of this chemical substance were not fully understood, and many people were exposed to lead through common household products like paint, gasoline, and lead pipes. This one of the main elements that RO systems filter out.

The use of lead in piping and other products was mostly discontinued in the 1980s, but homes built before may still have lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures. In fact, as many as 10 million homes in the US still have drinking water delivered through lead service pipes. This could spell trouble for you and your family.