Is There Lead in Ames Tap Water?
Lead was not detected in Ames’s latest sampling.
- AMES WATER TREATMENT PLANT · PWSID IA8503039
- Purity Score 100 · Excellent
- Confidence: moderate
Plumbing inside a home can add lead the record can’t show.
A tap test tells you what reaches your glass. If lead is a concern, these carry a lead reduction claim:
- NSF/ANSI 53Lead-certified filtersPitcher, faucet or under-sink. Check that lead is named.
- NSF/ANSI 58Reverse osmosisUnder-sink membrane systems certified for lead.
- At the sourceService line replacementAsk the utility about your line’s material.
- Side by sideCompare treatmentFormats, maintenance and limits for each method.
Test your own tap
Screening tells you if something is worth a closer look; a lab result is the number you can act on.
As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Screening: quick check, not lab-grade
Safe Home DIY Lead in Drinking Water Combo Test Kit
Safe Home (EnviroTestKits)
Lead, read as one of three ranges: 0–4, 5–15 or 15+ ppb
- Turnaround: 5 minutes
What it can't tell you: It shows a lead range, not an exact level, and tests nothing else unless you pay extra for the optional lab test.
Lab-certified results
ETR Labs Basic Water Quality Test Kit
ETR Laboratories
50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria
- Analyzed by Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories (ETR Labs), Leominster, MA · ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ANAB certificate AT-2638
- Turnaround: 2–4 business days after the lab receives it
What it can't tell you: It does not test PFAS, and not every result on the panel falls under the lab's accredited scope.
When your results arrive, read them here →
Products for lead
Lead isn't a concern in Ames’s record, so no product is matched here. Open one to see what its certification covers.
As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. A product appears here only when a current certification record covers at least one identified concern; every concern stays listed. The retail offer is looked up afterwards and never changes which products appear or their order. Affiliate disclosure.
- Browse, not a match:
- Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200)
- Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M)
- Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2)
- AquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100)
- AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000)
- Brita Elite Water Filter Pitcher
- Clearly Filtered Pitcher (lab-tested, not NSF 53 certified)
- Culligan ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher (ZEROP10)
- Frizzlife SP99 Under-Sink Filter
- Patriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System
- PUR Plus Faucet Filter (FM2500V)
- Purewell K8626 Gravity Filter (not certified)
- Waterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System
- Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System
- Whirlpool Filter 3 Refrigerator Water Filter (WHR3RXD1)
Results as a table1 result with limit, status, sample date and source
| Contaminant | Result | Limit | Status | Sampled | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) | Non-Detect (ND) | 15 µg/L federal action level | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023–2025 monitoring period | Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: AMES WATER TREATMENT PLANT (IA8503039) |
Frequently asked
How do I know if my home has a lead service line?
Ask AMES WATER TREATMENT PLANT whether your address appears in its service line inventory, which utilities must publish. You can also look where the water pipe enters your home: lead pipe is dull grey, soft, and shows shiny metal when scratched gently.
How do I reduce lead in my water?
Run the cold tap for a few minutes after water has sat for hours, use only cold water for drinking and cooking, and use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction. Replacing a lead service line removes the main source.