What this means: Tulare's lead result was below the lab's reporting limit, so it is not plotted. 142 galvanized service lines to replace are on record, so a tap test is the way to know your home.
The city report tells you about the water system. A tap test tells you about your household.
How to test your tapLead service lines
City of Tulare reported 142 galvanized service lines to replace in EPA’s inventory (2026Q2). Many utilities replace these lines for free or share the cost. Ask City of Tulare whether your home’s line is on its list before you pay anyone.
| 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; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100) | TreatsleadPrice$$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 58, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000) | TreatsleadPrice$$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 58, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also good | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200) | TreatsleadPrice$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M) | TreatsleadPrice$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2) | TreatsleadPrice$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | PitcherCulligan ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher (ZEROP10) | TreatsleadPrice$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkFrizzlife SP99 Under-Sink Filter | TreatsleadPrice$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53-2024, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.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; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopPatriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System | TreatsleadPrice$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, NSF, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsleadPrice$$$ | Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 58-2024, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| 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; Tulare’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
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.
| Contaminant | Result | Limit | Status | Sampled | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) | Non-Detect (ND) | 15 µg/L federal action level | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024–2026 monitoring period (still open) | Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: TULARE, CITY OF (CA5410015) (opens in a new tab) |
Lead was not detected in TULARE, CITY OF's most recent lead sampling (2024–2026): the 90th-percentile result was below the lab's reporting limit. It comes from sampled homes; your own pipes decide what reaches your tap.
In EPA's service line inventory (2026Q2), TULARE, CITY OF reported 0 lead service lines, 142 galvanized lines requiring replacement and 0 of unknown material, out of 20,723 lines in total.
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 TULARE, CITY OF 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 TULARE, CITY OF first: it reported 142 galvanized service lines to replace in EPA's inventory (2026Q2), and many utilities replace these lines for free or share the cost.