Why the home matters
Two homes served by the same utility can have different lead risk because their pipes, faucets, and the metals joining their pipes differ.
What to check first
Look for a record of the pipe to your home and ask the matched water provider whether it offers help checking pipe materials or free home testing before paying a private laboratory.
When a tap test helps
If pipe material is lead, galvanized, unknown, or the household has a specific concern, a properly collected lead-at-the-tap sample can answer what public records cannot.