The lead-free, Ultra-Light garden hose by Water Right.

The Water Right lead-free water hose claims to be “the finest quality polyurethane garden hose ever made.” Since I’m a person who always ends up in a mud-wrestling match with garden hoses, I decided to try the Water Right hose out to see if it lived up to its claims.

Testing the Water Right Garden Hose

The hose I tested – the Water Right Ultra-Light – was very easy to use. It’s supple and lightweight, with high-quality metal fittings that were easy to connect to my faucet and sprayer. It has plastic coils at each end to prevent kinks at the connectors. Best of all, the hose material rebounded quickly, which means it was pretty easy to shake out tangles. When I kinked it on purpose, it didn’t crease.

Compared to bargain-bin garden hoses I’ve used, the Water Right hose was far superior in performance and quality. Compared to expensive hoses I’ve used, it was much lighter and easier to pull around, making the Water Right more pleasant to use.

The Water Right hose features kink-resistant connectors.

However, the most important thing about this garden hose is that it’s made from 100% lead free polyurethane. Lead contamination is a serious concern with PVC garden hoses. Lead leaches out of both the PVC tubing and the brass fittings and is a very dangerous neurotoxin even in very small doses.

A 2003 study by Consumer Reports revealed that water from some major garden hose brands had up to 100 times the lead levels allowed by the EPA. A subsequent lawsuit has attempted to reduce lead levels and disclose the risks, but not all garden hoses are properly labeled.

Importance of Lead-Free Garden Hoses

Made from food-grade materials.

Water Right garden hoses are made from top-quality, food grade polyurethane that meets both Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and NSF International safety standards, so you can fill your child’s swimming pool without worrying about highly toxic lead leaching out into the water.

While more expensive than big-box-store garden hoses, you’re buying safety and peace of mind in addition to a really high-quality, user-friendly product.

Buying and Using a Garden Hose

With any garden hose, it’s important to:

• Read the label: Never drink or fill swimming pools with water from a hose that isn’t clearly labeled “Lead Free” or “Drinking Water Safe.” The absence of a label means it’s not safe.
• Let it run: Always let your hose run for a few seconds before using, since the water that’s been sitting in the hose will have the highest levels of contaminants and bacteria.
• Avoid the sun: Store your hose in the shade. The heat from the sun can increase the leaching of chemicals from the PVC into the water.

Further Information

• Get the Lead Out of the Garden Hose (Consumer Reports via LeadPrevention.org)
• Lawsuit Wins Protection for Children from Lead Risks in Garden Hoses (Center for Environmental Health)

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