If municipal water supplies are possibly contaminated by pathogens, officials will declare a boil water…
Homeowners with private water wells should test for lead and other heavy metals every two years. Lead cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, so clear water is not proof that it is lead-free. To test for lead, collect a cold-water sample exactly as instructed by a certified laboratory and have it analyzed rather than relying only on a home test strip.
At A&T Well and Pump, our Raleigh well contractor helps private-well homeowners with water quality testing and, when lead or other contaminants are found, develop a well water treatment plan to ensure your household water is safe and contaminant-free.
Table of Contents
How Does Lead Get Into Private Well Water?
Lead in well water usually comes from the plumbing inside the home rather than the well itself. Older pipes, faucets, fittings, and solder may contain lead, and as water sits in contact with those materials, corrosion can allow small amounts of lead to enter the water. Because you can’t see, smell, or taste lead, well water testing is the only reliable way to know whether it’s present in your home’s water supply.
Which Homes May Have a Higher Risk for Lead in Water?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pipes, fixtures, solder, and fittings installed before 1986 may contain lead-bearing materials. Water chemistry can increase the problem too, with private well water with low pH more likely to be corrosive, causing more lead to leach from plumbing.
How to Test for Lead in Water for Raleigh Homes
If you’re concerned about lead in your well water, we recommend starting with laboratory testing rather than relying only on an at-home test strip. A certified lab can tell you whether lead was detected and at what concentration, which gives you much better information when deciding whether plumbing repairs or well water treatment is the next step.
Step 1: Conduct a Well Water Quality Test
The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health recommends its full well-water chemical panel to test for lead. The test also identifies other contaminants, including arsenic, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nitrate/nitrite, pH, and other water-quality measurements that may call for a well water treatment.
Contact a Well Water Testing Company
If you’re concerned about lead in your well water, start by contacting a company that works specifically with private well systems. A professional well contractor will help determine what type of testing makes sense, how the sample should be collected, and what to do if the results show a problem.
A&T Well and Pump provides well water testing support for homeowners in Raleigh and throughout the Triangle. Because we also work with well pumps , water treatment systems, and other parts of the well system, we can look at the results in context and help homeowners understand whether the next step involves additional testing, plumbing concerns, or a water treatment option.
Test Your Well Water Yourself With a Lab Kit
Homeowners can also collect a lead sample themselves. The better DIY option is to order a sampling kit from a certified drinking-water laboratory, collect the water at home, and send the sample back for analysis.
Follow the laboratory’s directions closely. For some lead tests, you may be instructed to take a first-draw sample from a cold-water faucet after the water has gone unused for at least six hours. That often makes early morning a convenient time to collect it. Don’t run the faucet beforehand unless your specific test instructions say otherwise.
Since the lab’s report will provide the actual concentration of lead found in the sample, homeowners will get more useful information than a basic home screening strip when deciding whether further well water testing, plumbing work, or well water treatment is needed.
Step 2: Review and Understand Your Test Results
Once the lab report comes back, look at the amount of lead detected rather than focusing only on whether the result is marked as positive or negative. Knowing the lead concentration helps determine how quickly you need to act and whether more well water testing is needed to narrow down the source.
A positive result for lead in your well water does not automatically mean the well itself is contaminated. The problem may be coming from a faucet, fitting, solder joint, pipe, or from corrosive water that is causing lead-containing plumbing materials to break down. In some cases, testing water from more than one faucet or taking additional samples can help show where the problem is occurring.
If you are not sure how to read the report, a Raleigh well contractor from A&T Well and Pump can help put the numbers in context and determine what should be checked next.
Step 3: Address the Source of the Lead and Retest
The right solution depends on why lead is getting into your water supply. If a fixture, fitting, or section of plumbing is contributing lead, replacing that component may be part of the fix. If the water is acidic or otherwise corrosive, well water treatment may be needed to adjust the water chemistry so it is less likely to pull metals from household plumbing.
A well water filtration system may be recommended when testing shows that lead or other contaminants need to be reduced at the tap or throughout the home. The system should be selected based on actual test results rather than choosing a filter first and hoping it addresses the problem.
After repairs or treatment are completed, test your well water again. Retesting is the best way to confirm that the changes made are actually reducing the amount of lead reaching your drinking water.
How to Test for Lead in Water FAQs
How often should private well water be tested for lead in Wake County?
It is recommended that private well owners in Raleigh and surrounding areas of Wake County test for lead and other heavy metals every two years. Additional testing is recommended after repairs, flooding, or other events that may affect water quality.
At A&T Well and Pump, our well contractors perform thorough well water testing for lead and other contaminants.
Can you tell if well water has lead by its color or taste?
No. Lead in water cannot be reliably detected by sight, smell, or taste. A laboratory test is needed to determine whether it is present and at what concentration.
Is 15 ppb of lead considered safe?
No. EPA uses 15 ppb as an action level for regulated public water systems, not as a health-based safe level for an individual household. EPA’s health goal for lead in drinking water is zero.
Are home lead-water test kits enough?
Home kits can screen for lead, but their detection limits and testing methods vary. If you are looking for how to test for lead in water for your home, it’s best to contact a certified laboratory or well contractor when you need a confirmed result.
A&T Well and Pump can conduct a water well test and, based on results, recommend the best water well treatment options for your property.
Does boiling well water remove lead?
No. Boiling does not remove lead from water. Use an appropriate alternative water source or a filter certified for lead reduction while the source of the contamination is being addressed.
Can a water filter remove lead from well water?
Some filters can. Look for a product specifically certified for lead reduction, such as qualifying systems under NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58, and maintain it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Schedule Well Water Testing With Our Raleigh Well Contractors
If you are concerned about lead in water from a private well, start with a properly collected laboratory sample. A&T Well and Pump provides well water testing and well water treatment services for homeowners in Raleigh and surrounding Triangle communities.
Contact us today to schedule a test or learn more about our water treatment solutions by calling (919) 980-0981 or filling out our contact form to get started.