Many people know about the hazards or lead paint, but did you know that lead can also be found in your everyday garden hoses?

It’s true.  If water sits in a hose for too long, the lead levels can get dangerously high.

Consumer Reports recently tested several hoses made of polyvinyl chloride, which uses lead as a stabilizer.  This lead can seep into the water as it passes through, with much higher levels if water sits in the hose.

Some hoses carry warnings about drinking water from the hose, while others proclaim they are safe.

In some of the hoses tested, lead levels were 100 times the amount the federal government says is safe from tap water.  Hoses which are labeled as ‘safe to drink’ seeped very little lead.

Before drinking from a hose, you should let water run through it to flush out any contaminants.