When History Flows Through Your Faucet: How Leesburg’s Century-Old Water Infrastructure Affects Your Home’s Water Quality
Nestled in the heart of Lake County, Florida, Leesburg’s charming historic district tells a story that spans more than a century. While visitors admire the Victorian and Colonial Revival architecture that defines the downtown core, homeowners in this historic area face a hidden challenge that flows directly through their taps. The City of Leesburg Water System was established more than a century ago, and many of the water lines serving the historic district are approaching or have exceeded their intended lifespan.
The Hidden Legacy Beneath Leesburg’s Streets
The voters approved a Historic District in May 2003 that covers over 300 parcels of land, encompassing the City’s downtown retail core and adjacent residential areas. While these historic properties showcase structures more than 50 years old representing architectural styles from the early years of the town’s history to the mid 20th century, the water infrastructure serving these homes often dates back even further.
Similar to other historic communities across Florida, Leesburg’s aging water infrastructure presents unique challenges. Approximately 66 miles of water lines are past their useful life, with pipes that predate the 1900s and cast-iron pipes dating to the 1940s and ’50s in comparable historic areas. These aging systems can lead to rusty or cloudy water and inconsistent water supply for residents.
Understanding the Water Quality Impact of Aging Infrastructure
Old water pipes don’t just affect water pressure – they can significantly impact the quality of water entering your home. Old iron pipes can introduce dissolved iron or rust into your drinking water, while copper pipes or connections can add excessive amounts of copper to your household water. Even more concerning, some old pipes before it was banned are made of lead which is generally considered the worst problem.
The health implications can be serious. Consumption of lead increases adults’ risk for cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disease, stroke and memory problems. For children, there is a risk of seizures, hearing loss, brain damage, lower IQ, behavioral problems and learning disabilities. Additionally, sediment buildup makes its way into the water you use throughout your home, causing rust in the water that can cause a red discoloration or leave brown stains in sinks.
Why Traditional Municipal Treatment Isn’t Enough
While Leesburg’s water treatment facilities work diligently to provide safe water, contamination often occurs after treatment, in the distribution system and home plumbing. Corrosion is a dissolving or wearing away of metal caused by a chemical reaction between water and your plumbing, with factors including the chemistry of the water (acidity and alkalinity) and the types and amounts of minerals in the water.
The more time water has been sitting in pipes, the more lead it may contain. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. However, this temporary solution doesn’t address the ongoing contamination risk from aging infrastructure.
The Modern Solution: Advanced Home Filtration Systems
For homeowners in Leesburg’s historic district, professional water filtration leesburg fl services have become essential for protecting family health. Quality Safe Water of Florida understands these unique challenges faced by residents living with century-old infrastructure.
Quality Safe Water of Florida is dedicated to ensuring every Florida family has access to clean, safe, and purified water. We are committed to providing the highest quality, efficient, and affordable water treatment solutions, prioritizing the health and well-being of our customers. Quality Safe Water of Florida offers a variety of services to meet all your water needs. We’ll provide you with your own custom-designed water purification system, based on your water analysis & your family’s water usage & needs.
Comprehensive Filtration Solutions for Historic Homes
Modern whole-house filtration systems can address the specific contaminants that leach from aging pipes. The system eliminates 99.9% of copper, lead, cadmium, volatile organic compounds, pesticides, sulfur, radionuclides, and scores of other water contaminants. These advanced systems are particularly crucial for historic district residents because the water coming to your home through aging pipes may leach dissolved lead, iron, copper, cadmium, and other toxic heavy metals into your drinking water.
Professional water testing is the first step in developing an effective filtration strategy. ETR Laboratories can help you with a water test to check out the current levels of lead, copper, iron, cadmium or many other unwanted contaminants. Choose from our fast, accurate water tests to learn if your plumbing is causing any problem with your water quality.
Protecting Your Investment and Your Health
Beyond health concerns, aging water infrastructure can damage your home’s appliances and plumbing fixtures. Clothes washed in water high in iron or rust often feel stiff, and your dishwasher might leave behind a residue on plates or cutlery. Hard water can also cause your sacrificial anode rod to corrode faster than usual, leading to premature water heater failure.
A comprehensive water treatment system not only protects your family’s health but also extends the life of your appliances, reduces energy costs, and maintains the value of your historic property. For residents of Leesburg’s historic district, professional water filtration isn’t just a luxury – it’s a necessity for safe, healthy living in homes served by century-old infrastructure.
Taking Action for Your Family’s Health
If you live in Leesburg’s historic district or any area with aging water infrastructure, don’t wait for visible signs of water contamination. It’s not possible to see, smell or taste this lead in your water, making professional water testing and filtration systems essential safeguards.
Call us today to schedule a risk-free consultation to learn more about our products, answer your questions, and more! Mon-Fri: 8:00am – 6:00pm Sat: 9:00am – 5:00pm | Sun: 9:00am – 4:00pm. Quality Safe Water of Florida serves North and Central Florida, providing customized solutions that address the unique challenges of historic communities and aging water infrastructure.