Lead In Paint & Water Surveys

Lead-Based Paint

Paints manufactured before 1960 were heavily leaded, with a tapering off of lead content until 1978, when lead was banned from household paint production. Lead is toxic to humans, especially children because of their size and weight. High concentrations of lead in young children can cause mental retardation, seizures, coma, and death. Adults may suffer severe nervous disorders, but are less likely to die from acute lead exposure.

Residential and commercial properties built before 1978 likely have lead-based paint (LBP) on either the interior or exterior surfaces. This may cause hazardous conditions for young children at multi-family complexes or commercial properties containing recreational areas or day-care facilities.

AquaTerra personnel hold proper state licensing and federal accreditation for LBP activities, and can offer solutions to a LBP hazard. We can provide the following LBP assessment services:

• Performing Inspections (includes paint, dust, and soil sampling)
• Performing a Lead Hazard Screening
• Providing a Lead Risk Assessment
• Designing an O & M Program
• Advising for remediation utilizing licensed contractors

Based upon the condition and age of painted surfaces at an inspected property, AquaTerra may suggest further investigation to insure the presence or absence of an LBP hazard. Such activities will benefit the owner by decreasing liabilities from employees, residents, or customers, and increasing the value of a property built before 1978.

Lead in Drinking Water

After lead-based paint, lead in water is the next most common avenue for lead to enter buildings. Surface water and groundwater normally have very low concentrations of lead, which usually enters domestic water through a plumbing system containing lead-based solder or pipes.

The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 (SDWA) established a maximum contaminant level goal of zero for lead in drinking water and the regulatory maximum contaminant level (MCL) for public water systems was set at 50 µg/l (micro-grams per liter). Under the Lead and Copper Rule, promulgated in 1991, the U.S. EPA subsequently replaced this MCL with an action level (AL) of 15 µg/l. Currently, if a Public Water System exceeds the AL in more than 10 percent of the samples collected, the system is required to implement a corrosion control program and provide public education on lead in drinking water.

AquaTerra can perform drinking water testing at properties that do not obtain water service from a municipal water source, and can provide the following services to identify the presence of lead in drinking water:

• Performing a Lead Hazard Screening
• Providing a Lead Risk Assessment
• Designing an O & M Program
• Advising for remediation utilizing licensed contractors

Based upon the condition and age of the water distribution system at an inspected property, AquaTerra may suggest further investigation to insure the presence or absence of a lead in drinking water hazard. Such activities will benefit the owner by decreasing liabilities from employees, residents, or customers, and increasing the value of a property.