Lead and copper water testing is important because both metals can pose serious health risks if they are present in drinking water at elevated levels. Here’s why the testing is done:

1. Health Concerns
• Lead: Even small amounts can be harmful, especially to children and pregnant women. It can affect brain development, cause learning disabilities, and damage kidneys and the nervous system.
• Copper: While copper is an essential nutrient in small amounts, too much can cause stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and, over time, liver or kidney damage.

2. Plumbing Materials
• Lead and copper can leach into water from:
• Lead pipes or lead solder in older homes and buildings.
• Copper pipes, especially if water is corrosive.

Testing helps detect if this leaching is occurring.

3. Regulatory Compliance
• The EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule requires water utilities to monitor drinking water and ensure it doesn’t exceed action levels:
• 15 parts per billion (ppb) for lead
• 1.3 parts per million (ppm) for copper

4. Preventive Action
• Testing identifies whether corrosion control measures (like adjusting water pH) are needed to reduce metal leaching.