EPA's Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program has completed its verification of the performance of four vendor-submitted lead test kits developed to meet the negative response and positive response performance criteria for improved lead test kits set forth under the 2008 RRP Rule. If you want to determine the exact amount of lead in your water, make sure you collect multiple samples from different sources in your home. For example, draw a sample from the kitchen, bathroom and the basement. Your water quality report includes information about the detected contaminants in your water and their levels. If you’re planning to buy a lead test kit, you probably don’t know much about your water quality right now. Perhaps you only want to test for lead – but it’s worth noting that the best-value tests are often those that test for multiple contaminants. When you know what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to tell a lead pipe apart from a copper pipe.

Some kits only indicate the presence but not the exact lead concentration. Because there are no safe lead levels in drinking water, you better not overlook this. Long story short, if you haven’t tested your water for lead and other contaminants in a while, make sure you test it now. Old Homes

Negative: Bottom line (next to number 1) is darker than the top line (next to number 2) or top line is not visible. Two optional upgrades –If you want to test for even more contaminants in your city water, like volatile organic compounds and disinfection byproducts, you can choose to upgrade to the Advanced City Water Test (testing for 109 analytes) or the Extended City Water Test (testing for 118 analytes). Extended Well Water Test: Tests your water for 182 items, such as typical industrial and agricultural impurities (radioactive particles, tannins, pesticides, and more). Based on the ETV results, there are no kits that have met both the negative response and positive response criteria requirements; however, there is one kit that met only the negative response criterion (D-Lead®), and it was recognized for use as a negative response-only kit on August 31, 2010. DIY testing kits come with everything you need to test your water, including a color chart, test strips, and an instructions guide.

Tests carried out by an EPA-certified laboratory or state are undoubtedly highly precise. But the accuracy of the results also depends on how you collect the water sample; make sure you do not commit any errors. Commercial Applications for Water Testing: Buyers Guide– Water Testing on vessels, ships as well as water tanks in remote locations On April 22, 2008, EPA published the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, which, among other things, established performance recognition criteria for lead test kits for use as an option to determine if regulated lead-based paint is not present in target housing and child-occupied facilities. The use of an EPA-recognized lead test kit, when used by a trained professional, can reliably determine that regulated lead-based paint is not present by virtue of a negative result. The RRP Rule also established negative response and positive response criteria outlined in 40 CFR 745.88(c) for lead test kits recognized by EPA.Using dropper, place water sample into test vial. Swirl vial gently for one minute. Place on a flat surface. Advanced Well Water Test: Tests water for 111 analytes, including pollutants emanating from nearby industrial/human activities (industrial and agricultural waste) and disinfection byproducts.