If you live in a multi-family apartment complex, a co-op, or a high-rise condo, you are likely familiar with the annual water quality report. Often distributed by a building manager or posted in a common area, these documents frequently state…
In an era of instant gratification and “do-it-yourself” home maintenance, it is tempting to head to the local hardware store and pick up a $20 water testing kit. These kits promise peace of mind in a box: dip a strip,…
Imagine this scenario: you decide to be proactive about your family’s health and order a water test. You sample the kitchen faucet where you fill your coffee pot and the bathroom sink where the kids brush their teeth. A week…
When homeowners decide to investigate the safety of their drinking water, they often assume that a single sample from the kitchen tap is enough to tell the whole story. After all, the water comes from the same municipal source, passes…
There is an unmatched sense of satisfaction that comes with a home renovation. You’ve spent months picking out the perfect quartz countertops, the subway tile backsplash, and that high-end, matte-black bridge faucet that serves as the centerpiece of your new…
In the modern era of home construction, the term “lead-free” is often treated as a definitive seal of safety. Most homeowners walking through a hardware store aisle assume that if a faucet or valve is stamped with a lead-free certification,…
In the world of home safety, there is a golden rule that many of us heard growing up but rarely questioned: “Never use the hot water tap for cooking or drinking.” While it might have seemed like an old wives’…
It is a common scene in home renovation: a homeowner installs a sleek, modern, “lead-free” stainless steel faucet, tosses the old brass fixture in the bin, and breathes a sigh of relief. They believe that by upgrading the point of…
For over thirty years, the standard for lead in American drinking water was anchored by a single number: 15 parts per billion (ppb). Established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1991 under the Lead and Copper Rule, this “action…
For decades, the conversation around lead poisoning was focused on the “obvious” cases, children living in dilapidated housing eating paint chips or workers in industrial smelting plants. In those scenarios, the symptoms were clear and the source was undeniable. However,…