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Lead free does not mean free of lead

The standard permits a quarter of one percent lead by weighted average in fittings and fixtures. Brand new brass is legally allowed to contain it.

New York

(212) 461-3879

New Jersey

(908) 772-8601

Connecticut

(203) 780-2022

NELAP accredited laboratory analysis

Certified Master Inspector

Water Quality Association

AIHA member

Serving NY, NJ and CT since 1991

Planning for a new baby

A home-water check can focus on lead, bacteria and other concerns important to the family.

Sample the water actually used

Kitchen taps, refrigerator lines and selected filtered outlets can be tested when relevant to the family's concern.

Accredited laboratory analysis

Results provide measured information for the specific contaminants included in the testing scope.

Lead free standard - permitted content
0.25%Lead permitted by weighted average across wetted surfaces of lead free fittings and fixturesUS EPA
0.2%Lead permitted in solder and flux under the same standardUS EPA
LegalA brand new brass faucet can contain lead and still be sold as lead freeUS EPA

Questions clients commonly ask

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Olympian Water Testing | Sponsored Listing on Natural Birth Mom
BusinessOlympian Water Testing LLC
CategoryWater Testing Service, independent laboratory analysis
Established1991, 35 years in operation
Service areaNew York, New Jersey and Connecticut
LocationsFive departure locations across New York City
Telephone(212) 461-3879 New York • (908) 772-8601 New Jersey • (203) 780-2022 Connecticut
Websiteolympianwatertesting.com
PanelsLead, copper, bacteria, PFAS, chemicals and full potability
AnalysisNELAP accredited laboratory analysis, accredited results provided
Locations

Five departure locations

Brooklyn
665 88th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11228
(718) 766-7043
Sunnyside
47-1 Greenpoint Avenue
Sunnyside, NY 11104
(718) 819-1230
Upper West Side
461 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10024
(212) 461-3879
Staten Island
1365 North Railroad Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10306
(212) 461-3879
Midtown
350 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10118
(646) 328-2931
Lead in modern plumbing

Lead Free Plumbing Still Contains Lead, and Testing Establishes How Much

The term lead free describes a permitted content rather than an absence. The standard allows a weighted average of 0.25 percent lead across the wetted surfaces of pipes, fittings and fixtures, and 0.2 percent in solder and flux.

Olympian Water Testing provides professional lead in water testing for families, expectant parents, homeowners and property buyers throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

What the Standard Permits

Several categories of component fall outside the rule entirely, and brass remains a recognized source in current installations regardless of the age of the property.

Brass and bronze components fitted in new work can carry lead, among them well pump and booster pump wetted components, brass pipe fittings including tees, elbows, couplings, unions and adapters, faucet cartridge housings and stems, angle stops and shutoff valves beneath sinks and behind appliances, water heater nipples and relief valves, faucet bodies in kitchens and bathrooms, ball and gate valves on domestic hot and cold isolation, backflow preventers and pressure reducing valves, tub and shower mixing valves. Products carrying the lead free designation return measurable lead often enough that a build date is not a reliable guide.

Why New Construction Warrants Assessment

A newly built home and a century old property both warrant assessment, because the components carrying lead are installed in both.

Only professional sampling and analysis at the tap establishes the position for a specific property, since a label and a build date describe a permitted content rather than a measured one.

How the Sampling Event Is Conducted

Our sampling technicians perform the site visit at the taps used for drinking, cooking and bathing.

Lead is collected as an ordered sequence of draws, a stagnation period is requested from the client where the parameter requires it, and outlet screens are left undisturbed so particulate lead is captured.

Understanding Our Reporting

Our reporting identifies each draw in the sequence, the method applied, the reporting limit and the measured concentration.

The pattern across the sequence indicates whether a fixture, a branch line, a riser or the water service line is contributing, which determines what any remedy would concern. Olympian Water Testing has operated since 1991 with NELAP accredited laboratory analysis.

How Olympian works

What Olympian does
  • On site sample collection by our highly trained and skilled laboratory technicians
  • Stagnation instructions provided in advance when required by the selected test
  • Chain of custody maintained from collection through analysis
  • NELAP accredited laboratory analysis
  • Our reporting states methods, reporting limits and measured values
Why clients choose Olympian
  • Thirty five years serving New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
  • Parameter selection determined through consultation with our consultants
  • Five departure locations across New York City
  • Reporting limits stated for every parameter selected
  • Support available 24/7 for testing questions and scheduling

Common questions

What should I test in my water during pregnancy?
The testing scope should reflect your specific concerns, water source and property. Lead is a frequent question, while well owners may also consider bacteria, nitrate, arsenic and other groundwater parameters.
Is clear tap water automatically safe during pregnancy?
No. Many contaminants of concern are invisible, so appearance alone cannot establish water quality.
Does an old building automatically mean there is lead in the water?
No. Building age can raise questions about plumbing materials, but only sampling and laboratory analysis can determine the lead concentration at a particular outlet.
Can water testing be done before moving into a new home?
Yes. Buyers and renters can test before or around a move when they want current information about the water at the property rather than relying only on general area data.

Request Water Testing for Your Family

Tell Olympian what you want to understand about the home's water, and the testing can be built around your specific questions and concerns.

Request Water Testing for Your Family