Fleck Lead in Water Filter

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How does lead in the Oyster Bay water system affect my household if left untreated for years?

In Oyster Bay, Nassau County, public water comes from groundwater sources managed by the Jericho Water District. The latest EPA records show a lead 90th percentile of 0 mg/L, indicating that the majority of sampled homes have very low lead levels within the distribution system. However, lead can enter household water through plumbing materials, which vary from home to home.

If lead were present in significant amounts and left unaddressed, over time it could accumulate in household water, potentially causing undesirable health effects. However, the system’s record shows that public supply lead levels are managed to remain low, minimizing community-wide risk.

How can I determine what treatment capacity I need based on my household’s daily water demand?

Choosing appropriate lead treatment depends on your household’s water use, typically measured as gallons per day. Estimating daily demand involves counting family members and considering water-using appliances and habits.

A treatment system must handle this volume without reducing water pressure or flow. The Fleck Lead in Water Filter system ships ready to configure, designed to accommodate typical residential water demands while reducing lead levels after testing confirms their presence.

How do public water system records differ from private well testing in what they establish about lead?

Public system data represent broad sampling from many locations, reflecting the condition of water as it leaves the utility and passes through distribution pipes. The Jericho Water District’s 2025 lead samples represent a snapshot of this collective, not any single home’s plumbing.

Private wells, by contrast, require individual testing to reveal specific water quality. Lead levels in private wells are influenced by local geology and plumbing materials unique to that property. Thus, system records provide community context but not a definitive statement on your home’s water.

What does the measured lead range in the system record mean against federal standards, and what does it not mean?

The 90th percentile lead concentration of 0 mg/L reported for the Jericho Water District means that 90% of sampled locations had lead at or below this level at the time of testing. This is based on EPA’s action level criteria, which focus on lead concentration at the tap after water has left the distribution system.

Importantly, a detection or low-level reading does not imply a violation or unsafe water. It reflects measurements in the water system and distribution pipes, not individual plumbing conditions. Homeowners should rely on targeted testing for their plumbing to establish actual personal exposure.

Can you give an example of reading the lead record’s median and range as a homeowner?

The Jericho Water District’s lead 90th percentile is recorded as zero, indicating very low levels in the majority of tested samples. If your home’s plumbing materials haven’t changed and you do not have lead pipes, you can expect your water to align with this low level.

However, municipal findings do not guarantee zero lead in your tap water. Factors such as pipe age, solder, and fixtures can introduce lead independently. Confirming your own water lead level requires certified laboratory testing on samples drawn from your tap, not relying solely on system-wide figures.

How does lead enter groundwater or the distribution system in the Oyster Bay region?

Oyster Bay’s water primarily comes from groundwater pumped into the public supply. Naturally occurring lead in groundwater is typically low in this area; however, lead may enter water after it leaves the source.

Lead contamination most commonly occurs through corrosion of older plumbing materials such as lead pipes, solder, or brass fixtures in homes. This corrosion can release lead particles into tap water, especially when water chemistry accelerates pipe degradation.

The Jericho Water District monitors water quality carefully, but individual household plumbing remains a variable factor outside the utility’s direct control.

Considering your household daily water demand and confirming local lead test results through certified analysis can guide your choice of treatment. The Fleck Lead in Water Filter is engineered to handle residential water volumes and reduce lead after detection, helping households in Oyster Bay address lead concerns effectively.

Where this information comes from

Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2025-12-31. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.

On record: EPA SDWIS record for JERICHO WD (NY2902831), groundwater supply, serving 58000 people: 1 health-based violations of 1 total; lead 90th percentile 0 mg/L