When I mailed off a free lead water test from New York City, I expected the results to say what most other Forest Hills parents had reported: no lead detected.
Instead, one of our samples came back at 27 parts per billion (ppb).
We had been drinking that water every day.
A few weeks earlier, I’d read a Facebook post on the local Forest Hills Parents group about testing lead levels in water. A few people commented that they had discovered 2 or 3 parts per billion (ppb) of lead in their water, but most of the comments were from people who had taken the test and found no lead. I learned New York considers anything above 5 parts per billion worth addressing.
I thought it might be a fun at home experiment to do with Max, so I ordered the free NYC Lead Water Test Kit. I naively thought the “kit” would be some kind of litmus paper or dye we just pop into a glass of water. (I don’t know how science works).
Turns out, we had to fill two big plastic jars with water from the kitchen tap, after not using any water for 6 hours. First thing in the morning, I used the first running water to fill up one jar. Then, as instructed I let the water run for two minutes before filling up the second jar (that 2 minutes of running water down the skink was painful for me - a former Californian). I packed the samples into the return box, scheduled a USPS pickup, and left them outside. It was surprisingly easy. Not much fun for Max, though.
A few weeks later, we received a letter from the city with the results that completely shocked me.
Test 1: 5ppb
Test 2: 27ppb
27 parts per billion?! I blinked, confused. WHAT?!
Surely that can’t be right? We’d been drinking that water every day. Filling the boys’ water bottles. Cooking their pasta in that water. Are they lead poisoned? Are we all poisoned?
The only association I had with lead in drinking water was the Flint, Michigan water crisis. I remembered the headlines, the outrage, the stories of children exposed to toxic water. The source of the drinking water was switched to the Flint River to save money and lead leached into the supply. It was a huge injustice to a predominantly black community, where hundreds of thousands of people were exposed to toxic levels of lead.
Lead at this level doesn’t have a taste, or a smell. It doesn't discolor the water.
We stopped drinking the tap water. It was OK for brushing teeth, and showering. Not OK for drinking and cooking with.
The letter from the city encouraged us to have lead pipes in the home replaced and/or to install a certified filter. Thankfully, our landlords had the plumber come to install a reverse osmosis filter on the kitchen sink within a week.
Given the high number, the city advised us to repeat the test, this time with a 3rd jar that was to be filled after running the tap for an additional 5 minutes. I completed the sample collection and sent it back the next day.
Lead Poisoning
During this time, I couldn’t help but worry about Max & Nico. Adults aren’t as susceptible to lead poisoning, but children are vulnerable. There’s no safe level of lead for children.
I began my research and found Lead Safe Mama on Facebook. It’s a community of parents that are concerned about lead found in all sorts of everyday products. They ask for advice, share test results, and share information about lead safe kid products.
The founder of the group created a short, self-produced film that she asked every new member to watch. I watched it astounded at the harm lead can do to children. One of her children was brain damaged due to lead exposure from external house paint being stripped down while they lived in the house. Like most parents, she had no idea of the danger and trusted that the contractors were following the correct regulations and procedures for safety.
Like every anxious parent who's been on Google too long, I started worrying about the ways my kids could be affected. Were Max's behavior changes connected? Had I missed signs? Was Nico affected?
Steve and I took them to the doctor for a blood draw. When Max’s results came back with no detectable trace of lead I felt relief. Nico’s result came back with a low reading for lead in his blood. It was low enough that it didn’t require further medical intervention. But still unsettling to know there was lead in his blood.
His doctor warned me to make sure we limit his exposure. By that time we were already drinking the filtered water and using a large gallon bottle of it in the bathroom for teeth brushing, out of precaution.
Final Results
The final lead test results came to us after almost a month of waiting. I thought they might have put a rush on the second round since the level was so high! But, no.
Test 1: 2ppb
Test 2: 27ppb
Test 3: 2 ppb
These results showed that after 5 minutes of running the water, the lead levels dropped down. The results suggested that the lead wasn't coming from the city's main water supply. Instead, it was likely entering the water somewhere in the service line leading to the house.
Replacing those pipes wasn't something our landlords were interested in doing, especially since they planned to sell the house.
It was good to know that after using water, flushing toilets, showering, etc. the lead levels were way back down. That’s probably why Nico’s lead levels were low enough not to concern the doctor.
I first started writing this blog post in early 2025, even that was months after we went through the testing. It was a very stressful time to worry about the boys and whether or not Nico’s behavior and cognitive skills would be impacted. Two years on, I am happy to say that neither of the boys were impacted.
I almost didn’t order that free test kit. If I’d never seen that Facebook post, we would have kept drinking that water for years.
If you live in NYC, or any big city, consider getting your water tested for lead. If you’re in NYC they have a free program. https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/water/lead-in-drinking-water-test-kit.page#
One thing this experience taught me was that the biggest risks aren't always obvious. And there are many things in life that we cannot control. I wish I could keep my kids safe from every possible harm, always.
When we moved into our new house, we ordered the test kit right away. The results came back: zero ppb.
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