Lead in tap water typically comes from either the pipe connecting older homes to the water system or from plumbing within the home itself. Therefore, to find out if you have lead in your water, you must test the water inside the home.
Testing your water is easier and less expensive than you may think. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees the quality of tap water, recommends sending samples to a certified laboratory for analysis. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline, at 800-426-4791, can provide a list of qualified labs in your area. Lead testing is also available at the Erie County Public Health Laboratory for a nominal fee. Call 716-898-6100 for more information.
For a limited number of participants, the Erie County Water Authority is offering free lead and copper testing for homes within its service areas, as part of its Annual Lead and Copper Study. Those interested in being part of the Annual Lead and Copper Study should contact the Erie County Water Authority at 716-849-8484.
If you are part of the Annual Lead and Copper Study being conducted by the Erie County Water Authority, an ECWA employee will drop off to your home a sampling kit, with instructions, which you complete. Once you have collected the sample, ECWA will arrange to pick up the sample for analysis.
To maximize the accuracy of your results, it is very important to follow the directions. Here are a few key points, which will also be included in the sample collection instructions:
The Erie County Water Authority will notify you of the test results and will provide further information about limiting lead exposure. For more information go to www.ecwa.org/GetTheLeadOut.