Lead in Drinking Water
In 1988, the USEPA issued guidance on limiting drinking water lead in schools, which has since been updated several times. This guidance includes specific sampling instructions designed to enumerate the concentration of lead emanating from the plumbing. The guidance establishes the lead standard at 20 ppb (parts per billion), provides remedial suggestions, but is non-regulatory in nature.
In 1991, EPA published a regulation to control lead and copper in drinking water distribution systems. This regulation is known as the Lead and Copper Rule (also referred to as the LCR). The rule requires drinking water systems (public and private drinking water suppliers) to monitor drinking water at customer taps. If lead concentrations exceed an action level of 15 ppb or copper concentrations exceed an action level of 1.3 ppm (parts per million) in more than 10% of customer taps sampled, the system must undertake a number of additional actions to control corrosion. The number of sampled taps is based on the size of the system. If the action level for lead is exceeded, the system must also inform the public about steps they should take to protect their health and may have to replace lead service lines under their control.
While the LCR rule applies to water utilities, the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water guidance also establishes limits for pipe, plumbing fittings, fixtures, solder and flux.
Eurofins Environment Testing US
Eurofins is your single source for a broad range of potable water testing, providing analysis for lead, disinfection byproducts, microbiology, organics, inorganics, asbestos and radioactivity.
Eurofins has the largest potable water testing laboratory in the US, with more than 100,000 combined square feet of laboratory space dedicated to testing drinking water, bottled water, beverages, water in food production and reuse water.
Our laboratories are ISO 17025-accredited and also certified under the NELAC Institute (TNI) national accreditation program, as well as other federal, state and private organizations to perform routine and specialized analyses.
Convenient Locations and Courier Service
We provide courier and pack-and-ship services across the United States. With a fleet of vehicles, we will pick up your samples and expeditiously transport them to our laboratory for analysis within the required hold time. All of our couriers are trained in sample handling, sampling transport and chain-of-custody (COC) procedures.
With laboratories located in Lancaster and Horsham, PA; Agawam, MA; North Kingstown, RI and Service Centers across PA, NJ and NY, we are able to provide you with fast and reliable transport of your samples to the laboratory for testing and you can expect dependable results to your drinking water testing needs.