The United States Environmental Protection Agency has determine that lead concentrations in water at or above 15 ppb (parts per billion) pose significant health risks to humans. They require public water systems to test for lead regularly.
Does this mean your water supply is ‘safe’ from lead contamination?
Example 1: In Albany, NY a few years ago water samples taken from the drinking fountains of a public grade school contained excessive quantities of lead.
Example 2: Older homes sometimes contain ‘original’ plumbing and at one point the solder used to connect pipes contained lead.
Example 3: Some water systems have retro-fitted their water treatment plants with all new lead-free plumbing/piping but the lines running to your home from the street may still contain metal fitting capable of leaching lead into your water supply given the proper pH and alkalinity of the water passing through them.
Example 4: You have a private water supply (a well). Lead occurs naturally in the environment as well as coming from man-made sources plus, see ‘example 2’ above.
How can you test for lead in water?
Previously testing for lead in water required a complicated procedure but recent advancements in chemistry have made fast, accurate, and easy-to-use home tests such as Lead in Water Test possible.
This reliable lead in water test kit allows even non-technical people to obtain reliable test results in approximately 10 minutes!
