The plumbing industry has issued an urgent call for the Government to review all plumbing products on the market.
It follows testing on Kiwi taps that found alarming levels of lead in our water.
"If you have a small dose of lead over a long period of time, it can have very severe effects on development of the central nervous system - particularly in children, because kids' brains are developing right up until the age of 16," toxicology professor Ian Shaw told Newshub.
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There's now proof in the plumbing, with new tests finding some Kiwi tapware is leaching 70 percent more lead into our drinking water than what's allowed.
"Lead is an accumulative poison, which means if you get some day one, then day two - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in the week - you don't excrete it, you build it up, making it very hard to set a safe limit for lead because it is accumulative poison," Mr Shaw said.
The World Health Organisation recommends "a zero tolerance" approach when it comes to lead levels.
But in New Zealand, 10 micrograms of lead per litre of water is deemed acceptable, and that standard is voluntary.
It's more than double the accepted levels in Europe, China and the US, prompting Master Plumbers to issue a call to politicians asking for a full review of the plumbing supply.
"We think it's actually crazy that it's a voluntary standard - it should be mandatory or a third-party verification for plumbing products in New Zealand."
But the Ministry concerned says the recent lab tests don't indicate a systemic problem or require a review.
And to make matters worse, it's almost impossible for the average homeowner to test their own taps.
Newshub.
