The USEPA set as a Primary Drinking Water Standard the level of 15 ppb dissolved lead in drinking water. Reaching or exceeding this level, for a water treatment plant, means the plant must immediately act to reduce the level. Failing to do so could result in substantial fines from the USEPA.

Lead in Water Test

Scientific studies have shown that prolonged consumption of lead in water may result in learning disabilities, muscular disorders, damage to the kidneys, and a host of other unwanted health problems.

I have city water... so why should I test for lead?

Lead can show up in city/municipal/public water supplies. Why? Older water systems may still have metal tubing in use that, in older days, workers used solder (which contained an amount of lead) to join together.

Over time water makes its way through the joints to the solder and then lead slowly enters the water supply. To make matters worse, older homes that contain copper plumbing usually have joints fused together with solder that contains lead -- and no State, Local or Federal law can make homeowners or landlords replace older plumbing with newer, lead-free components.

Testing for other metals in water

If concerned about metals other than lead in your water, we also carry test products for mercury, chromium, zinc, copper, total iron, and a cumulative test for heavy metals.

For additional information on lead in drinking water

To learn more about the effects of consuming lead, how lead could potentially gets into your water, and information on removing lead from drinking water, please take a look at the Lead section of the Water Testing Blog.

Home water test kits for lead?

The WaterSafe Lead in Water Test Kit makes testing for potentially dangerous levels of dissolved lead in drinking water a fast and easy process. Giving useful results in just minutes, the WaterSafe Lead Test lets you know if your drinking water contains more than 15 ppb (parts per billion) dissolved lead.

Total Copper in Water Test

Chromium in Water Test

Mercury in Water Test

For those with older homes which may still have copper piping, please note that in a lot of cases plumbers used lead-based solder to connect the older copper pipes. Over time the lead from that solder typically found its way into the water carried by those pipes. If you suspect that you may have these older pipes and solder-based connections in your home, we suggest that you use one of the following lead in water drinking water test kits on a periodic basis:

• WaterSafe Lead Home Drinking Water Test Kit
• WaterWorks Lead in Water Drinking Water Test Kit

Should any of the results turn up positive for lead, meaning your drinking water contains 15ppb or greater concentration of dissolved lead, we highly recommend you have your water evaluated by a certified water professional.

Although we keep repeating ourselves, do-it-yourself drinking water test kits serve as great screening tools for the average consumers but no one should ever rely upon them as their sole testing method. Remember: It’s your water, your health, your life.