Understanding Your Lead Results

Your results show if lead is detected, and at what level, for each drinking or cooking water tap you sampled. Lead results are measured in parts per billion (ppb). One ppb is about the same as one drop of water in a backyard swimming pool.

If any results are below our laboratory detection limit, there is either no lead in your water or the amount is so low that our instruments cannot measure it (less than 0.1 ppb). Even if no lead is detected, we recommend practicing “Clean Water Habits.”

If your results are at or above our laboratory detection limit of 0.1 ppb, we recommend low-cost solutions to remove lead and reduce exposure. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that lead in water should not exceed 1 ppb. We recommend practicing Clean Water Habits and implementing “Low-Cost Solutions.”

For samples at or above 5 ppb, we strongly recommend the low-cost solutions listed on our What to do about Lead in Water resource page to remove lead and reduce exposure.

If you have a sample that is at or above the state action level (10 ppb), then immediately stop using the tap for drinking and cooking. You must restrict use of the tap until mitigation actions have been taken and further testing confirms the tap is below the state action level. Take action to remove lead from the tap by using the low-cost solutions previously recommended plus the recommendations listed on our What to do about Lead in Water resource page.

There may be additional sources of lead in your piping or plumbing. Additionally, lead-certified filters are not certified for use above 150 ppb. If one of your taps is at or exceeds this level, immediately stop using the tap for drinking and cooking and follow the steps listed on our What to do about Lead in Water resource page.