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Assessing Portable Analyzers for Lead Testing in School Drinking Water
Citation:
Wasserstrom, L., J. Nelson, D. Webb, L. McCormick, S. Triantafyllidou, D. Patrick, AND J. Swertfeger. Assessing Portable Analyzers for Lead Testing in School Drinking Water. To be Presented at AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference 2019, Dallas, Texas, November 03 - 07, 2019.
Impact/Purpose:
Portable field analyzers may provide simple, rapid, low-cost lead measurements in drinking water samples compared to standard laboratory instruments. However, they may miss the particulate fraction of lead resulting in false assurance the water is safe. This presentation highlights lead testing results from sampling undertaken by the Greater Cincinnati Water Works (laboratory samples, field samples at schools and field samples at lead service line sites in Cincinnati, OH). Two portable lead analyzers were compared with the standard EPA 200.8 method (ICP-MS) to assess their ability to provide accurate lead results. Overall, results obtained with the handheld units underestimated lead levels compared to laboratory analysis, and the lead results were variable when particulates were present in the water samples.
Description:
Portable field analyzers may provide simple, rapid, low-cost lead measurements in drinking water samples compared to standard laboratory instruments. However, they may miss the particulate fraction of lead resulting in false assurance the water is safe. This presentation highlights lead testing results from sampling undertaken by the Greater Cincinnati Water Works (laboratory samples, field samples at schools and field samples at lead service line sites in Cincinnati, OH). Two portable lead analyzers were compared with the standard EPA 200.8 method (ICP-MS) to assess their ability to provide accurate lead results. Overall, results obtained with the handheld units underestimated lead levels compared to laboratory analysis, and the lead results were variable when particulates were present in the water samples.