Plumbosolvency - The ability of a solvent (like water) to dissolve certain materials (heavy metals) from plumbing fittings over a period of time.
Heavy metals can dissolve into the water supply from plumbing fittings and may be present in the first portion of water drawn from your tap each morning or after any prolonged period of no water use.
Horowhenua District Council, together with the Ministry of Health, therefore advises all residents to discard the first mugful of water each morning to avoid the possibility of long-term health risks from exposure to heavy metals.
It is important to note that heavy metals are not a problem with the water itself, but rather, when plumbosolvent water dissolves heavy metals found in some household plumbing fittings.