Three Melrose Homes Fail Lead Testing

MELROSE, MA - Melrose was one of two communities to have more than one home flunk the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s lead level testing, but officials say there is no cause for concern.

A September test revealed three homes among 17 tested in Melrose were above the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard for lead levels in water, according to numbers released by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. One of the houses registered the highest levels in the state.

But the MWRA says there is no imminent danger.

• Tips for lead safety.

“They only take samples from houses that they know use lead service pipes,” said MWRA spokesperson Ria Convery. “People shouldn’t be concerned. They sample houses that are most likely not to pass.”

The EPA tests 450 homes in its system every year. No more than 10 percent of the community samples can contain lead levels above 15 parts per billion. Only 2.3 percent of samples last year were above that mark.

“While system-wide results have shown remarkable reductions, MWRA continues to stress that elevated lead levels in any home deserves attention,” the MWRA said in a letter.

One of the samples in Melrose tested at 188 parts per billion, much higher than most samples. The other houses were at 17.2 and 15.7.

The samples are taken before letting the water run for 30 seconds, which usually flushes any lead from the water. Samples at homes that fail and are taken after letting the water run often pass the second test.

The MWRA offers affected communities this brochure on lead safety.

Melrose was the other community that had more than one house fail; Eight communities in total had at least one house fail.

The lead levels in water have been in the news since the crisis in Flint, Mich.