Lead is not present in the water Capital Region Water supplies to the distribution system. Lead can enter the water when water mains or old plumbing systems corrode. To prevent the corrosion of pipes, Capital Region Water adjusts the pH of the water and adds a corrosion inhibitor (orthophosphate).
Under strict state and federal regulations, Capital Region Water is required to test for copper and lead in its drinking water every three years. Samples for this testing are taken directly from faucets in areas with the oldest water mains and from buildings which are most likely to contain lead in their plumbing systems. Based on Capital Region Water’s service area size, 33 samples are collected for each testing period. Capital Region Water’s recent result was 0 ppb.
Water Quality Reports
Following its mandated Lead and Copper Rule sampling plan, Capital Region Water tests several high-risk residential homes throughout its service area. State and federal regulations require the 90th percentile lead level to be less than 15 parts per billion. Capital Region Water’s result can be found here in the annual Water Quality Report.
Common Questions About Lead
How do I know if I have lead in my water?
Capital Region Water’s recent result was 0 ppb. Customers can contract with a local environmental testing lab or purchase in-home test kits at their local hardware store. Capital Region Water cannot recommend or endorse any specific laboratory or in-home test kit.
What about other water contaminants?
Every year, Capital Region Water publishes a “Drinking Water Quality Report” that outlines the results of water quality testing for a number of contaminants.
Where does my drinking water come from?
Capital Region Water gets its drinking water from the DeHart Reservoir, a remote and pristine reservoir in the forested hills about 20 miles north of Harrisburg.
The DeHart Reservoir provides some of the highest-quality drinking water in the country. Our Water Services Center is staffed around the clock to treat, test, and produce over 7 million gallons of safe drinking water every day.
Capital Region Water also maintains three storage reservoirs at Reservoir Park, as well as over 200 miles of water mains, to deliver safe drinking water to every home and business in its service area.
Capital Region Water has received both the 10-year Director’s Award and the President’s Award from the Partnership for Safe Drinking Water for exceeding all state and federal drinking water standards.