Do you need to send a sample to a water testing lab?

Is your drinking water safe? That’s a question many of us don’t think about until we hear about dangerous contaminants like lead making headlines. But the truth is, lead can lurk in our tap water, posing serious health risks, especially for children. So, if you’re wondering whether you need to send a sample to a water testing lab, this blog post will explain why it’s a smart move as well as give you some options. Whether you’re concerned about lead in water, iron bacteria, or other contaminants, water sample testing can give you peace of mind and help protect your health.

Why Send A Sample To A Water Testing Lab?

You may have heard about the Flint, Michigan water crisis or recent concerns about lead in tap water at schools like those in the Oakland Unified school district. These events have put the issue of lead in drinking water front and center, and for good reason.

To begin, lead is toxic to the developing brain and nervous system, which is why it’s particularly dangerous for children (source). But lead doesn’t just affect kids—it’s a health hazard for adults, too. In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified lead as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (source).

Further, ongoing exposure to lead has been linked to higher death rates due to cancer, and this is likely because lead damages DNA and interferes with DNA repair. Additionally, lead may amplify the harmful effects of other carcinogens (source and source).

Consequently, to improve your chances of warding off cancer and supporting your health in general, it seems like a good idea to prioritize reducing your exposure to lead, particularly to lead in water. This is one reason for sending a water sample to a water testing lab as an important step to ensure that your drinking water is safe.

How Can Lead Get In Your Drinking Water?

You might be wondering, “How does lead get into drinking water?”. Well, it can come from various sources, and often, the unsafe levels go unnoticed. Consider the following causes of lead in water:

• a change in the method used for water disinfection
• old plumbing
• well water.

Water Disinfection Method Change

First, disinfection is the final step in water treatment before it starts flowing to our homes. You can learn more about this in my blog post Water Treatment Chemicals List.

A significant example comes from Washington, D.C., where a change in water disinfection methods in 2001 caused lead levels in tap water to spike by as much as 20 times the federally approved limit. Regrettably, residents didn’t learn about the contamination for another three years (source).

Old Plumbing

Next, old lead pipes, still present in many homes across the country, can be a source of lead contamination in water. Even though Congress banned lead solder for water pipes in 1986, estimates suggest that between 3.3 million and 10 million older lead pipes remain in use. These pipes can leach lead into drinking water during repairs or changes in water chemistry (source).

It’s important to note that the water service line, i.e., the pipes that connect your home to the main water supply, typically belong to the homeowner from the point where the water meter is located to the inside of the house. In other words, upgrading the pipes running from the water meter to your home’s faucet is your responsibility. Older homes (especially those built before the 1980s) may have lead-lined pipes or lead solder connecting them. So, even if you have no idea, your drinking water could still be running over lead.

Well Water

Lastly, if you are on well water, in some cases, lead may be present in the natural geology of the area where the well is located, which is how you can get lead in water. On a side note, well water users or well owners must be especially watchful for a change of color or taste of their water. This may be an indicator of the unwanted growth of microorganisms, including iron bacteria that end up sticking to well pipes, pumps, and plumbing fixtures (source). Read my blog post Is Well Water Safe To Drink? to learn more about testing well water.

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What Government Regulations Address Lead Levels In Drinking Water?

To start with, the federal government regulates lead levels in tap water, allowing up to 0.015 milligrams per liter (15 micrograms per liter or 15 parts per billion). However, there is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that no level of lead exposure is considered safe for children, despite the federal limit (source). This discrepancy arises because the government’s safety limits are often a compromise between public health considerations, industry concerns, and compliance costs.

For a more health-focused approach, the California health public goal is a much stricter safety limit of 0.0002 milligrams per liter (0.2 micrograms per liter or 0.2 parts per billion) (source). This more conservative approach focuses solely on public health impacts, without considering the financial burden of reducing contamination.

How To Test For Lead In Your Drinking Water

Wondering if there’s lead in your water? The first step is to check your municipal water quality report. You can find it online by searching for the name of the municipality and “water quality report.” You can also contact your water utility to ask how often they test for lead and what their water analysis findings have been. But be aware: If your utility finds that lead levels comply with the federal limit, they might not publish test results on the report. Given the fact that there’s no safe level of lead, relying on this information alone might not offer the peace of mind you’re seeking.

Therefore, the best way to know for sure if there’s lead in your water is to send a sample to a water testing lab. When choosing a lab, ask about their minimum detectable level for lead. For example, when I was looking for a lab, I contacted CalTest, and their minimum detectable level was 2.5 parts per billion (ppb). However, the California public health goal recommends that lead levels should not exceed 0.2 ppb. So, I moved on and found TapScore.   

TapScore is a water sample testing service founded by a team from the University of California, Berkeley. They test for lead and other contaminants according to the California standards and provide comprehensive results along with expert recommendations on water filters. The good news is that they have a variety of testing kits, about which you can learn in my blog post How To Test Your Water Quality At Home.

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What To Do If You Find Lead In Your Drinking Water

In the event you discover that lead is present in your drinking water, it’s time to take action. If the lead source is old plumbing, replacing the lead pipes in your home is the most effective solution.

Additionally, consider installing a water filter that is tailored to the specific contaminants in your water. The Clean Water Revival services specialize in creating customized water filtration systems to meet your needs, ensuring that your home’s water is free from harmful contaminants. You can learn more about this easy solution for your water filtration and find a discount code here.

Bottom line, if you haven’t used any additional water filtration systems because you have relied on your municipal tap water or other water sources, it is best to reconsider. Take advantage of my free blog posts to learn more about Filtered Water, Distilled Water, Kangen Water, Spring Water, and Alkaline Water as well as the Best Water Filter For You.

Conclusion: Do You Need To Send A Sample To A Water Testing Lab?

Sending A Sample To A Water Sample Testing Lab Will Help You Get Comprehensive Water Analysis And Assurance That There Is No Lead In Water At Your Home.

In conclusion, if you have concerns about lead in your water, then it is a good idea to send a sample to a lab. Lead contamination is a serious health risk, and sending a water sample for analysis is the only way to know for sure whether your water is safe. By taking this simple step, you can protect your health and the health of your family. Whether you’re testing for lead, iron bacteria, or other contaminants, water testing offers valuable insights and the opportunity to take control of your water quality.

Personally, I used TapScore water testing kits (click to learn how to get 10% off), which gave me peace of mind by confirming the quality of the water my family drinks. It helped me avoid any unnecessary stress about potential water issues.

For more insights on water and water filters, be sure to visit the I Read Labels For You blog and my non-toxic product shop. You can also explore my exclusive e-books and my Amazon store. Plus, get access to my free emails to receive exclusive content, special discounts, and motivation to help you on your healthy living journey.

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