There could possibly be harmful amounts lead in your garden house. I'm not sure how I did not know this since it was even on ABC news. Sometimes I feel like I can't keep up with everything I shouldn't use or be doing - and yet if you don't you are putting yourself, your family, and your pets at risk. Turns out, lead is pretty common in most garden hoses.
Many hoses are made of polyvinyl chloride which uses lead as a stabilizer. If the water sits in the hose for any amount of time, it becomes contaminated with this lead. The contaminates may be less if you let the water run for a bit before using it to drink from, water with, fill a pool with, or fill pet dishes outside. I guess there is even a warning on the inside of most of the giant cardboard labels that are attached to hoses when you purchase them saying unfit to drink water and to wash your hands after using. Ick.
Lead poisoning is nothing to mess around with especially in young children. ABC news did a story on this a while back and somehow I missed all the info. Luckily there are some lead free types of garden hoses out there and here are some suggestions.
Teknor apex
Swan marine/camper hose
Better Homes and Garden Kink-free
Just be careful, because these companies may still make other hoses that are contain lead.
Crazy stuff. Just to be safe, always let the water run for a bit first.
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