Is There Lead in Your Water? Here’s What Every NZ Household Should Know

Most of us in Aotearoa trust our tap water. We turn it on, pour a glass, and assume it’s clean and safe. But if your home — or rental — was built before 1980, or you live in an area with soft or acidic water, there's something you should be aware of:

Lead contamination could be quietly leaching into your water from aging pipes, old plumbing fixtures, or solder joints.

While New Zealand doesn’t face the same scale of lead crisis as places like Flint, Michigan, isolated cases — such as Waikouaiti in 2021 — have shown us that we’re not immune. In fact, homes in parts of the South Island with naturally soft water are at greater risk, as acidity can pull lead from plumbing materials into the water supply.

🧠 Why Lead Exposure Matters — Even at Low Levels

Lead is a neurotoxin. Even small amounts can accumulate in the body and cause harm over time. And because it’s tasteless and odourless, it’s invisible in your water — unless you test for it.

Here’s what the science tells us:

In Children:

• 🧠 Lower IQ and attention span

• 📉 Slower development and academic performance

• 🧒 Greater risk of behavioural and learning issues

In Adults:

• ❤️ High blood pressure and cardiovascular stress

• 🔁 Memory loss and cognitive decline

• ⚖️ Fertility challenges and pregnancy risks

• 🧬 Suppressed immune response

• 💧 Kidney strain over time

There is no known "safe" level of lead — especially for children and pregnant women.

💡 What Can You Do?

Fortunately, protecting your household is simple and empowering:

1. Test Your Water for Lead

If you’re unsure about your home’s plumbing or water source, start with a test.
Ionza offers:

• DIY “17-in-1” water test strips that detect lead

• Guidance on sending water samples to certified NZ labs for detailed analysis

💧 Contact Ionza for lead testing support →

2. Use a Water Filter That Targets Lead

Several of Ionza’s systems include media designed to filter or reduce lead:

🌀 Alka Flow Benchtop System
A compact benchtop unit that connects to your tap — includes carbon and ultrafiltration to reduce heavy metals, bacteria, and more.

🏡 Alka City Total Filter System
Ideal for city water — includes KDF media, known for reducing lead, mercury, and other metals, along with chlorine and fluoride.

💧 Ionza RO Mineralizing System
Reverse osmosis is among the most effective technologies for filtering lead and other contaminants — great for homes on town supply.

🚿 LifeSpring Whole House Filtration (Town Supply)
Provides home-wide filtration using high-grade carbon and sediment filters — while not lead-specific, it helps reduce a range of impurities at every tap.

3. Flush Your Tap

Before drinking or cooking with water that’s been sitting in the pipes (e.g. overnight), let it run for 1–2 minutes. This simple habit can reduce your exposure to lead that leaches from pipe surfaces during stagnation.

4. Consider Plumbing Upgrades

If your home has lead pipes, fittings, or solder, consider replacing them over time. While this can be a bigger investment, it offers long-term peace of mind — especially if you're starting a family or have young children.

💚 Water You Can Trust

At Ionza, we don’t just sell filters — we advocate for a world where every household, regardless of postcode, has access to clean, vibrant, life-enhancing water.

We’re here to support your health with systems that go beyond filtering — they help bring your water back to life through mineral enrichment and ionisation.

Whether you’re protecting your family from heavy metals or simply seeking the best hydration possible, we’ve got options that meet you where you are.

💬 Have questions about lead, filters, or the best option for your home?
📞 Call us or send us a message — we’re happy to help.

With warm regards,
The Ionza Team