Question from Melissa
Hi Lisa, thank you for this wonderful resource! We are in the process of a home renovation project, which includes moving our kitchen and several lightly used bathrooms (powder room
and guest room/office bathroom).
Our contractor was planning to use PEX piping for all incoming water. I know there are concerns about leaching from PEX pipes. Would you share that concern?
One alternative is copper pipes. The contractor is pricing this for us for our kitchen only, as it is likely too expensive to use everywhere (the kitchen is our highest priority for uncontaminated water). Do you have health concerns with copper pipes and/or joint materials that would be used with it?
For the other locations, I know that polypropylene pipes are sometimes considered safer than PEX, but that there could be concerns about joint material used with polypropylene pipes. What do you think about polypropylene vs PEX?
Lisa’s Answer
Here is a very good guide by EWG on pipes. Perhaps use copper with lead-free joints where affordable and polypropylene pipes on the remainder.
I completely agree with Lisa about using copper and polypropylene. I searched a few years ago about the chemicals used in PEX. They are toxic. Also, even after we had copper pipes throughout the house along with a Pure Effect whole house well water filter, I was reacting. It turned out to be the supply lines to every sink. The plumber replaced the synthetic supply lines with copper. We also had him install copper piping and a stainless shower head in the shower to replace the stainless (with PVC inside) shower sprayer. To make sure drinking water was safe, we also have two Pure Effect countertop filters. It was expensive, but we did without other things to make sure to have safe drinking water and to make sure I was no longer reacting. Wishing you the best. This is such a difficult problem.