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What drinking water contamination tests should you order? Here we discuss the general classes of water contaminants covered in a water test for lead. There are several possible sources of lead in drinking water, including lead in ground water, lead contamination from municipal water piping, lead contamination from building water supply piping or fixtures, well contamination by lead from surface contamination due to lead paint chips, and insignificant lead contamination from lead in well pumps or faucet parts.

Readers of this article should see our review of a Home Test Kit for Lead in on building surfaces located at LEAD TEST KIT for HOME USE. The same company offers a lead-in-water test, as do local health departments and private water testing labs in most cities. Also see Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: Testing & Correction - Advice. Readers should also see our longer article Water Quality Testing, and advice for home buyers and building owners: water contaminants, water test procedures, well shock procedures, preventing drinking water contamination, and Cheating on water tests in that document.

This website describes the types of water testing available, outlines common water test fees, describes the details of what parameters are included in various water test options, and gives advice to assist you in deciding what tests to order.

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Lead Contamination from Water Supply Lines/Entry Mains, Lead Testing & Correcting Contamination from - Lead Pipe Problems/Advice

Depending on the duration and extent of lead-water contact, lead can enter the water supply if lead is present in supply piping or fixtures. Common sources of lead in water supply piping include older lead-bearing solder used on copper pipes, possible lead content in brass piping or fixtures, lead water supply piping (rare), and lead water supply entry main between a building and the public water main in the street (common in some areas).

Health hazards from lead content in water

Recently there was also a flurry of concern about lead contributed by brass in private well pumps. However the testing methods used for this latter topic misrepresented an exaggerated and frankly dubious risk. Finally, it is possible for lead to be found in private well water if lead contaminants have entered the local aquifer.

Action Level for Lead in Water - allowable lead limits

New York State Department of Health has set an action level of 0.015 mg/L of lead in a sample of water drawn from a tap used for drinking water after a 6-hour period of no water use.

Variations in Lead Level vs. Testing Methods

Lead levels will usually be quite high in water which has sat overnight in a lead line from street main to house.

Most lab tests indicate low lead levels in water from such lines after the test fixture has run until all standing water in the piping has been flushed out with fresh from the municipal supply mains in the street.

There are ambiguities in instructions offered by some municipalities about how to obtain a water sample for lead testing. The particulars of how the water sample is taken can make a big difference in the lead level obtained. Our photo (below) shows how to recognize lead water supply piping between a building water shutoff valve (or water meter) and the water supply mains in the street. The author is pointing to the wide lead wipe joint connecting the lead water pipe to the bronze bottom of the water shutoff valve.

1. The very first draw of lead test water from a faucet or plumbing fixture is measuring lead contributed by any lead-containing brass which is present in some faucets.
2. "First draw" taken after a moment of flushing out the faucet to test for lead is taking water from the pipes near the fixture. Depending on pipe material and length, considerably more water might have to be taken before observing the water sample exposed to most lead uptake.
3. First cold water after a night of no usage when testing for lead is likely to provide water that was sitting in the entry main from street to house. If this line is lead, the lead content of this sample will be quite high. Alternatively, if all piping were visible between the test fixture and water meter (rarely the case) one could calculate the volume of water necessary to flush to obtain a sample from the line to the street.
4. A water sample taken after running the water for several minutes when performing a lead in water test (depending on length of piping in the house from street to fixture) is sampling the quality of water provided by the municipality. Some city plumbing officials have expressed the opinion that lead oxide build-up in pipes insulates against significant lead levels in water actively running through such lines.

Most local building codes do not require removal of lead, for example, the City of Poughkeepsie Building Codes do not require removal of residential lead supply lines (house to street). However eventually (usually after 40-60 years) these lines corrode, leak, and have to be replaced. Replacing the main supply from street to the water meter, when required, could involve significant expense.

People with concerns for the amount of lead in water should consult the local health department and should have their water tested for lead. Typical lab fees are $20. to $25. per sample plus the cost of hiring an independent consultant to collect and handle the water sample if you don't do it yourself.

Even if you are not concerned with testing for lead in water it would be wise to reduce possible lead intake by flushing any lead-containing piping before drinking such water. In addition, lead-in-water removal equipment is available from water treatment companies.

If you need to calculate the amount of water to run out of piping to be sure you are obtaining water from the street , that is, the volume of gallons of water inside of water piping, you need to know simply the length and diameter of water piping between the faucet where the water test is to be taken and the location whose water you want to test, say water in the water main in your street. 1/2" internal diameter water piping contains about 0.01 gallons per linear foot; 3/4" ID piping contains about 0.02 gallons per linear foot, and 1" water piping contains about 0.04 gallons per linear foot. See  How Much Water is In the Well? for a detailed explanation of how to calculate the volume of water inside of pipes.

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• Also see How to Reduce Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: how to test & correction lead in drinking water

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• Home Test Kit for Lead review of the performance of an inexpensive test kit for lead in water, sold in building supply stores and at other sources - kits are sold for both lead on surfaces and lead in water.
• Health hazards from lead content in water
• Action Level for Lead in Water - allowable lead limits
• Variations in Lead Level vs. Testing Methods
• How to Reduce Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: how to test & correction lead in drinking water
• Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: Testing & Correction - Advice.
• More Information on Lead and other Contaminants in Drinking Water, & Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• How to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water
• Drinking Water testing, contamination, correction - all topics
• Drinking Water Testing Advice for home buyers home owners home inspectors
• Choices of Water Tests & Fees: A Summary of Types of Water Tests, Degrees of Comprehensive Water Testing, Details of Water Test Parameters
• Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid
• General water testing and corrective measure advice: contact your local health department.
• Interpreting Drinking Water Test Results and Correcting Unsatisfactory Water
• Drinking Water Contaminant Levels - Maximum Allowed
• Drinking Water Contamination and Pollution How to Detect, Test, Correct, and Prevent Well Water Contamination - US EPA - Groundwater
• How to Reduce Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: how to test & correction lead in drinking water
• When and How to Shock or Chlorinate a Well - Procedure for Shocking a Well to (temporarily or maybe longer) "Correct" Bacterial Contamination
• Water and Waste Water Test Methods, US EPA
• Water Requirements, Home & Outdoor Living
• ATSDR: Nitrate/Nitrite Toxicity [Big, Slow-Loading File] U.S. Government ATSDR Science Corner - 2.5MB PDF
• Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipment
• The Septic System Information Website - Extensive, Detailed Consumer and Industry Information on Septic System Inspection, Testing, Maintenance, Alternatives for on-site waste disposal
• Sewage or Septic contamination in buildings - Investigation, Testing and Remediation

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