Is Your Garden Hose Safe to Use?

As most of the country starts pulling out of the winter freeze and preparing for spring, any gardener’s thoughts are lightly turning to thoughts of seedlings, raised beds and equipment. If you’re not thinking about replacing your garden hose, you should at least be considering it. Among other things, recent research and studies have suggested that your garden hose could be hazardous to your health. Here’s what you really need to know to decide if your current hose is safe to use and meets all of your needs.

Do You Or Your Kids Drink From The Water Hose?

The inside of your garden hose may be coated with toxic chemicals that are used as preservatives or to maintain flexibility in the rubber. Those chemicals, including lead, can leach into water left standing in the garden hose for as little as 5 minutes – and in amounts large enough to cause problems. If you use your garden hose to fill toddler pools or if you or the kids are prone to taking a drink from the hose, you should consider replacing your hose with a drinking-safe garden hose. Not sure if your garden hose is drinking safe? In most cases, drinking-safe hoses will be stamped with the information you need to know.

Do You Water Edible Plants with Your Garden Hose?

Most scientists agree that there’s no danger to watering your edible plants – herbs, vegetables and the like – with a standard garden hose, but some experts are uncertain about the effects. If you’re not using a drinking-safe garden hose, always rinse produce from your garden well before eating it. Even then, they point out that plants take up minerals and nutrients from the soil. If you’re watering your plants with lead-contaminated water, the lead will remain in the soil and could be taken up by the plants. A drinking safe garden hose will eliminate that concern.

All Sizes Available

As more consumers become aware of the possible hazards associated with lead and other chemicals in PVC hoses, manufacturers are responding by providing drinking safe hoses in many sizes. You can usually find 1/2 inch garden hose, 3/4 inch garden hose, 50-foot garden hoses and other popular sizes in drinking-safe options.

There’s no need to fight the crowds or face confusion in the aisles of your local big box home improvement stores. You’ll find great deals for garden hoses of all types and sizes online at manufacturers’ and distributors’ websites. Don’t take chances with your family’s health. Replace your old garden hose with a drinking-safe garden hose today.