What this means: Bedford (brwa)’s result is below the federal action level, but 5 lead service lines mean conditions in an individual home can differ from citywide monitoring.
The city report tells you about the water system. A tap test tells you about your household.
How to test your tapLead service lines
Bedford Regional Water Authority (Brwa) reported 5 lead service lines to replace in EPA’s inventory (2026Q2). Many utilities replace these lines for free or share the cost. Ask Bedford Regional Water Authority (Brwa) whether your home’s line is on its list before you pay anyone.
Local help
Call to be connected with a local plumbing provider about lead service lines, repiping or fixture replacement.
| Test | Lead | Other contaminants | Result | Useful for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETR Labs Basic Water Quality Test Kit | ✓ | 50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria | Lab number | A number you can act on |
| Safe Home DIY Lead in Drinking Water Combo Test Kit | ✓ | None listed | Screening, not lab-grade | A quick first check |
Lab-certified results
ETR Laboratories
50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria
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.
Screening: quick check, not lab-grade
Safe Home (EnviroTestKits)
Lead, read as one of three ranges: 0–4, 5–15 or 15+ ppb
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.
Why: designed to reduce lead at the drinking-water tap, after the water has passed through the service line and building plumbing.
★ Best choice: Brita Elite Water Filter Pitcher, certified for lead.
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | PitcherBrita Elite Water Filter Pitcher | TreatsleadPrice$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M) | TreatsleadPrice$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | CountertopAquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2) | TreatsleadPrice$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also good | Reverse osmosisSmartFlow® Reverse Osmosis | TreatsleadTechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Certified for lead (WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsleadPrice$$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 58-2024, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsleadPrice$$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 58-2024, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100) | TreatsleadPrice$$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 58, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000) | TreatsleadPrice$$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 58, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200) | TreatsleadPrice$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | PitcherCulligan ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher (ZEROP10) | TreatsleadPrice$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkFrizzlife SP99 Under-Sink Filter | TreatsleadPrice$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53-2024, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Faucet-mountPUR Plus Faucet Filter (FM2500V) | TreatsleadPrice$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopPatriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System | TreatsleadPrice$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, NSF, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead, found in Bedford (brwa)’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RCC7AK Alkaline Reverse Osmosis SystemUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$ | Brand lab-tested, not independently certified for lead | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RO5004F Tankless Reverse Osmosis System with UVUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Brand lab-tested, not independently certified for lead | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisWaterdrop X12 Reverse Osmosis System | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$$ | Brand lab-tested, not independently certified for lead | See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
★ Best available: iSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House Filter, the best fit here; nothing in this group is certified yet.
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best available | Whole-houseiSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House FilterUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | Price$$$ | Brand lab-tested, not independently certified for lead | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
PurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
A reported city-wide lead concentration is not a measurement of the water coming from every household tap. Lead can enter water through service lines, faucets, fixtures and plumbing materials. “Bedford (brwa) reported 1.6 µg/L” does not mean your water has 1.6 µg/L.
| Contaminant | Result | Limit | Status | Sampled | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) | 1.6 µg/L | 15 µg/L federal action level | Below the listed reference | 2024–2026 monitoring period (still open) | Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) (VA5019052) (opens in a new tab) |
BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA)'s most recent lead 90th-percentile result (2024–2026) was 1.6 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level. It comes from sampled homes; your own pipes decide what reaches your tap.
In EPA's service line inventory (2026Q2), BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) reported 5 lead service lines, 0 galvanized lines requiring replacement and 4,468 of unknown material, out of 14,143 lines in total. Unknown lines have not yet been identified and may include lead.
1.6 µg/L at the 90th percentile of the homes BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) sampled under the Lead and Copper Rule (2024–2026).
It is below the 15 µg/L federal action level. Lead has no MCL: the action level is a treatment trigger, and EPA's health goal for lead is zero.
Yes. Lead usually enters water from service lines, solder and fixtures between the main and your tap, so one home can measure higher than the citywide figure. Only a test of your own tap shows it.
Ask BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) 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.
Use a state-certified lab for an exact number, or a screening kit for a quick range. For lead, take a first-draw sample: water that has sat in the pipes for at least six hours.
One whose current certification names lead for the exact model: NSF/ANSI 53 (carbon) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis). Until then, run the cold tap for a few minutes after water has sat for hours, and use only cold water for drinking and cooking.
NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 with lead listed for the exact model, checked in the certifier's listing (NSF, WQA or IAPMO).
If your home has one, replacing it removes the main source of lead. Ask BEDFORD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (BRWA) first: it reported 5 lead service lines to replace in EPA's inventory (2026Q2), and many utilities replace these lines for free or share the cost.