Lead Water Test

Lead in Drinking Water: A Risk No Home Should Ignore

Lead in drinking water has no taste, no odor, and no color. Most people who have it have no idea. It enters drinking water almost exclusively through plumbing, not from the original water source itself. Solder joints, brass fixtures, and older pipes are the most common culprits, particularly in homes built before 1986 when lead was still widely used in plumbing materials. Even newer homes are not entirely in the clear, as fixtures installed before 2014 may still contain lead above what is now considered acceptable. Highly acidic water or water with low mineral content accelerates the leaching process, meaning your plumbing could be introducing lead into your water every single day without any visible sign.

There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. This is not an opinion — it is the position of the EPA, the CDC, and virtually every major public health organization. Lead accumulates in the body over time and concentrates in the brain, bones, and kidneys. In children, even low level exposure can cause permanent learning disabilities, developmental delays, hearing loss, and behavioral problems. In adults, long term exposure has been linked to high blood pressure, kidney damage, and neurological disorders. Infants and young children absorb lead at roughly twice the rate of adults, making early detection especially critical.

Lead contamination in municipal water is not always caught or disclosed in a timely manner, as events in cities across the country have demonstrated in recent years. Whether you are on a private well or city water, the only way to know for certain what is coming out of your tap is to test it.

How It Works

Order your test and we’ll mail you a sample collection kit with easy-to-follow instructions. Collect a water sample from your tap and send it back to our lab. Results are delivered within 1 to 3 business days from the date your sample arrives.

Understanding Your Results

If lead is detected in your water, knowing the level is only the first step. Every lead test includes a free consultation with one of our in-house water quality experts. Simply email us or give us a call after receiving your results and we’ll walk you through what was found and help you determine the right next steps for your household.

This test is recommended for homeowners and renters in older homes, private well owners, households with infants or young children, anyone on city or town water concerned about aging distribution infrastructure, and homebuyers conducting due diligence before closing on a property.