Deciding the Right Approach for Lead This Week
If you live in New Bedford, Bristol County, your current challenge is choosing between two technical methods to reduce lead in your household water supply.
Understanding Measured Lead Levels Versus Federal Standards
EPA sampling in the New Bedford public water system, serving over 100,000 people with surface water sources, recorded a 90th percentile lead concentration of 0.0041 mg/L as of December 31, 2023. This figure reflects lead presence after water leaves the treatment facility, within the distribution system or household plumbing. Importantly, this sample measure is well below the EPA’s action level for lead, indicating no health-based violations are on record for this public water system. However, this measure is not a direct indication of your home’s tap water concentration, which depends on your specific plumbing materials and condition.
Why Lead is a Different Concern Compared to Other Water Issues
Lead differs from common water quality issues like chlorine taste or hardness in that it primarily enters water through plumbing corrosion rather than the source water itself. While New Bedford’s water treatment employs multiple processes designed to control water chemistry and minimize corrosion, lead’s presence depends heavily on household plumbing components. This distinction affects how you should approach testing and treatment to address lead specifically rather than general water quality problems.
Interpreting Detection, Median, and Range in the Water Record
The term "detected" in EPA records means measurement instruments found lead in sampled water. The 90th percentile value of 0.0041 mg/L indicates that 90% of samples had lead concentrations at or below this value. It does not imply a violation or safety concern on its own. Data like median or range can provide insight into typical variations but are not definitive for any one home’s water quality.
Seasonal and Multi-Year Variations in Lead Measurements
While the latest measurement is from December 31, 2023, variations in lead levels can occur over time due to changes in water chemistry, treatment practices, or plumbing system conditions. These variations are considered in routine monitoring, and New Bedford’s record shows consistent compliance without health-based violations over time.
Applying the Record to Your Household Water
Suppose your home’s plumbing contains older lead-bearing materials. Even though the public system shows low lead levels, your tap water’s lead concentration can be higher due to local corrosion. To know your household’s specific lead level, you need to conduct a direct water test at your tap. Only this test can guide you decisively in choosing the best treatment approach for your situation.
One documented solution to address lead effectively is the C-Series Lead in Water Filter. This system ships ready to configure and can reduce lead concentration according to your measured household demand, providing a targeted approach based on your own water testing results.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2023-12-31. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA SDWIS record for CITY OF NEW BEDFORD DPI (MA4201000), surface water supply, serving 101079 people: 0 health-based violations of 0 total; lead 90th percentile 0.0041 mg/L