How to Read Water Lead Results From Testing?
Water lead testing is a critical tool for understanding the quality of your drinking water. It can also help you identify lead sources in your home, such as a lead service line or plumbing fixtures.
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There are many different types of test results and it can be hard to know how to read them. For example, a water sample may be tested for chemical concentrations or mineral concentrations (pH, alkalinity, and hardness). These tests usually give the results in parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/L) of the contaminant.
A water test can also show how much lead has been dissolved in the water (or is not dissolved in the water). These contaminant levels should be considered in combination with other data, such as the location of a lead service line or a plumbing fixture and whether a child lives in the home.
Some water testing laboratories offer a free water lead profile, which provides information on the source of the high levels of lead in your water and may help you to better understand your lead testing results. You can request a lead profile at any time by calling your local water authority or using the link below.
The water lead profile will help you determine the best action to take to reduce your lead exposure. It will also allow you to monitor the progress of your action to see if it has been effective.
When a profile is completed, the water sample will be tested again to make sure that the lead level has been reduced to a safe level for you and your family. This will be an important step to help protect the health of your family, especially your young children, and infants.
You should always use fresh, cold, running water for drinking and cooking. This will minimize the amount of lead that is absorbed into your skin, hair, or other body tissues.
This is an important precaution if you have a young child or are pregnant since the risk of lead exposure to those groups is increased by high lead concentrations. You should also avoid cooking with hot or warm water, as lead leaches more easily into these temperatures than in cold ones.
If you are concerned about lead in your home’s water, contact your water provider and ask for a lead test kit. These kits are free and easy to use.
The sample can be mailed back to the lab for a test result. The test will be analyzed for lead, nitrates, bacteria, chlorine, and more. The results will be mailed back to you in 30 days or less.
It is critical to read and follow all the instructions for testing your water. The EPA and the American Public Works Association recommend that you do not reuse contaminated water.