Important Garden Hose warnings

Well, I just learned something new via Consumer Reports magazine
Seems that most garden hoses contain lead. Last year I bought some hoses that came with a warning : "Do not drink from or use for livestock purposes." There was no explaining why that warning was on the label, so I figured perhaps the inside of the hose was treated with something (you know how they come with that smell). It was the lead in the hose that they were warning me about. YIKES. It seems that even the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that "lead levels in the blood even lower than the current definition of toxicity may adversely affect a child's IQ."-Consumer Reports, July 2003

It seems the magazine tested 16 new hoses from brands sold at national chains stores only 4 were labled safe for drinking, 6 had warning labels and the remaining 6 were not labeled either way.

When chosing a hose, look for the safe to drink label.
Safe:(labeled on tag)
Gardeners Supply Co.-33-469
Teknor Apex-Boat & Camper Self-straightening
Swan-Marine/Camper
Better Homes and Gardens -kink free

Not for drinking: (comes with warnings on tag)
Colorite-Plastics Mainstays LIght Duty
Gilmour-Flexogen 7168657
Swan-Fairlawn Reinforced
Gilmore-Flexogen 10-5805GY
Swan-Heavy Duty Soft & Supple

Not for drinking(no labels found on tags)
Teknor Apex - Light duty
Teknor Apex-Mainstays Medium Duty
Companion 7169022
Craftsman-7169616
Teknor Apex-Heavy Duty
Craftsman-7169212

The above was taken from Consumer Reports Magazine, July 2003 issue, page 6

I am sure many of you might have known that lead was in garden hoses', I for one, didn't. I hope this info helps you to chose a 'child friendly' hose.

wow Lisa i had NO idea-thats just crazy, cuz most people take a lil drink from the hose while watering-i do!

thanks for letting us know! :)

Gads! My poor dog! He always wants to drink out of the water hose, and I let him. And I fill his outside water bowl via the hose. No wonder he's so stupid.

This whole lead in the water hose thing is pretty upsetting. We worry about the paint in our kids schools, then send them out to play in the hose, on the slip-and-slide, in the backyard wading pool ... o man. (smacking myself in the head) How much lead-contaminated water did my DD ingest!!? How very un-cool.

Thanx for letting us know! Information is power, Thanx for sharing.
Cheri'
(sundry)

Thanks for sharing that info.... I had no idea! I use only Craftsman rubber hoses with a lifetime guarantee. Of course they don't last a lifetime, but if I just cut off the ends and takje them to the store, I get a replacement hose free. Now, I'll have to check the hose material content.

makes you wonder how we got past childhood huh...lol

This message was edited Saturday, Jun 14th 1:09 AM

Well, I'm upset! I can not believe this. Who would look for a warning lable on a hose that is already in use. Kids would not. I don't see why it is legal to sell a hose that poisons the water.

Hoses are intended for watering, not drinking. Most people do not have a garden hose supplying their household water. I think the lead leaches into the water when the water sits for long periods of time in the hose, so an occasional drink from the hose probably won't be supplying you with enough lead to cause a problem. I remember reading that we shouldn't drink water from the hot water tap even when it feels cold because water sits for hours in a hot water tank. So how many of us take water from the hot water fawcett to make coffee, cook pasta etc? If you have soldered pipes in your house (lots of us do) you might be getting some there as well. I'm not too concerned about it, have taken a lot of drinks from the hose, and am not showing any ill effects after a lot of years of this behavior. Much of the stuff in this world is way over hyped. I'm not gonna loose sleep over it.

Even the faucets we buy today have a lead warning. North Carolina State University has a very good article at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/housing/pubs/fcs395.html I have done home repair over the last 40 years and was one of those using lead solder on my drinking supply piping. Even at the time I knew of the hazards of lead, but never thought about it getting into the water from a small solder seam. Of course there is always one rebel in the crowd - check out http://michellekennedy.netfirms.com/million.html