The City of Newark Water Treatment Plant performs lead and copper testing as required by the EPA. To monitor compliance with the regulation the City must sample water from individual homes. Sampling locations are selected based on the potential for lead components in the home plumbing system. Per EPA requirements, the City monitors 30 homes every 3 years. Residents in homes where samples are taken are notified of the results of those tests. If lead concentrations exceed an action level of 15 ug/L or copper concentrations exceed an action level of 1.3 mg/L in more than 10% of customer taps sampled, the system must undertake a number of additional actions to control corrosion.
If the action level for lead is exceeded, the system must inform the public about steps they should take to protect their health and take actions to control the lead levels.
The City of Newark’s levels of lead and copper are well below the action level. Each year this information along with other important information is published in the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). This report can be found on the City’s website. Click here to view the current CCR.
Testing Your Homes Drinking Water
Testing your home's drinking water is the only way to confirm if lead is present. Most water systems test for lead at a certain number of homes as a regular part of water monitoring. These tests give a system-wide picture of whether or not corrosion is being controlled but do not reflect conditions at each home served by that water system. Since each home has different plumbing pipes and materials, test results are likely to be different for each home.
You may want to test your water if:
You can buy lead testing kits in home improvement stores to collect samples to then send to a laboratory for analysis. EPA recommends sending samples to a certified laboratory for analysis; lists are available from the Ohio EPA. Your water supplier may also have useful information, including whether the service line connecting your home to the water main is made of lead.
Find local contact information for testing your water for lead by calling EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
If Your Home Tests Positive for Lead:
SDWA also requires plumbing fittings and fixtures intended to dispense water for human consumption (e.g., kitchen and bathroom faucets) meet a lead leaching standard. Those fittings and fixtures should be certified according to NSF/ANSI Standard 61 for lead reduction.
Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for maintenance procedures. If not maintained properly, some treatment devices may increase lead and other contaminant levels.
Learn More about Lead at:
Basic information about lead in drinking water
Learn About Lead - Ohio EPA
American Water Works Asssociation (AWWA) informational animation about lead in drinking water
Lead educational information
Pipe ID procedures