District of Columbia well water / Lead
Lead in District of Columbia private well water
If your District of Columbia well water test shows lead, compare the number to common health and aesthetic benchmarks, then confirm next steps with a certified lab or local professional.
Plain-English interpretation
Lead is especially harmful for children and pregnancy, even at low levels.
Use certified filtered or bottled water for drinking and cooking until plumbing and treatment are evaluated.
What District of Columbia homeowners should check
- Confirm the exact unit on the lab report before comparing limits.
- Retest health-related contaminants with a certified lab before major treatment purchases.
- Keep a copy of each report for home sale, rental, and treatment service records.
- Set an annual reminder for bacteria and nitrate testing.
Treatment discussions
- NSF-certified lead filter
- Reverse osmosis
- Plumbing replacement
Related District of Columbia well water guides
Nitrate
High nitrate can be dangerous for infants and pregnant people.
Arsenic
Long-term arsenic exposure is linked to cancer and other chronic health risks.
Total Coliform
Coliform bacteria indicate a possible pathway for contamination into the well.
E. coli
E. coli suggests fecal contamination and can cause acute illness.
pH
Low pH can corrode plumbing; high pH can cause scale and taste issues.
Hardness
Hard water causes scale, appliance wear, and soap inefficiency.
Keep your well history
Interpret once on the web. Track forever in the app.
Save test history, set annual reminders, compare results over time, and create a shareable report for your family or water professional.
Track Lead results in the app