Lead remains one of the most significant water-quality concerns in New York City, especially in older apartment buildings constructed before 1987 (1990*). Even though NYC’s main water supply contains virtually no lead when it leaves the reservoirs, the plumbing inside buildings can introduce lead through lead service lines, old brass fixtures, and solder used in copper pipes. For tenants and property owners, the only way to know whether lead is entering your drinking water is through certified laboratory testing.
Olympian Water Testing of NYC specializes in apartment-level lead water testing, following NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and EPA protocols. Our team collects multiple targeted samples, including first-draw, flushed, and fixture-specific samples, to help pinpoint where lead is entering the system. This allows us to determine whether contamination is coming from your apartment pipes, building plumbing, or the service line connecting your property to the street.
Lead exposure is especially dangerous for children, pregnant individuals, and infants who consume formula mixed with tap water. Even trace amounts—below federal action levels—can accumulate in the body over time. Many buildings pass annual inspections yet still have localized issues in certain units, particularly on upper floors or in apartments that experience extended stagnation.
After testing, you receive your laboratory results, an explanation of the detected levels, and recommendations. These may include fixture replacement, flushing routines, point-of-use filters, plumber evaluation, or building-wide pipe assessment. For landlords and co-op boards, we provide documentation suitable for compliance purposes and tenant notification.
Whether you live in a rent-stabilized apartment, a luxury high-rise, or a pre-war co-op, our lead testing service gives you accurate, apartment-specific data so you can ensure safe drinking water for your household.
Copper is widely used in NYC building plumbing, but corrosion can cause elevated copper levels and create significant health and maintenance problems. Many residents notice signs such as a metallic taste, blue-green staining around faucets, pinhole leaks, or discoloration of water. These symptoms often point to aggressive water chemistry, failing joints, or internal pipe corrosion, and they require professional testing to diagnose accurately.
Olympian Water Testing of NYC offers certified copper corrosion testing tailored for NYC apartment buildings, brownstones, and mixed-use properties. Because copper levels can vary throughout a plumbing system, we collect samples under different flow conditions to understand how water interacts with your building’s pipes. Our process includes multiple-draw sampling and stagnation analysis.
Copper corrosion isn’t only a plumbing concern. High levels can cause gastrointestinal issues, liver stress, and other health impacts, particularly for young children or individuals with Wilson’s disease. NYC’s water is generally low in corrosivity, but building-level factors like old copper pipes, poor grounding, high water heater temperatures, or long plumbing runs can significantly increase corrosion risks.
Our testing recommendarions provide guidance for a full assessment, not only copper but also pH, alkalinity, zinc, iron, and other indicators that reveal the underlying cause of corrosion. With your report, you may receive guidance that may include installing certified point-of-use filters.
Whether you are a tenant worried about stains and taste issues or a property manager dealing with repeated pinhole leaks, our copper testing service offers the clarity you need to protect both your health and your plumbing system.
PFAS contamination—often referred to as “forever chemicals”—has become a growing concern nationwide. While New York City’s main reservoirs generally show low PFAS levels, many factors can influence PFAS detection at the building level, including plumbing materials, building water storage tanks, local contamination events, and cross-connections in older facilities. Some New Yorkers also rely on private commercial water sources, workplace water coolers, or mixed-supply buildings, which may have different PFAS risks.
We provide specialized PFAS testing using EPA-approved methods (EPA 537.1, 533) through accredited laboratory channels. These tests detect PFAS compounds at extremely low concentrations—often in the parts-per-trillion range, far below what general labs or consumer test kits can identify.
PFAS have been associated with immune dysfunction, thyroid disruption, developmental issues, and certain cancers. Even small amounts are taken seriously because PFAS accumulate in the human body over time. As federal and state regulations tighten, NYC residents, property managers, childcare facilities, and commercial property owners increasingly seek proof that their drinking water meets the latest safety expectations.
We provide end-to-end PFAS testing from sample collection to certified reporting. If PFAS are detected, we share explanations of the compounds found, some times their potential sources, and options to consider for mitigation, such as installing NSF-53/58 certified filtration systems, evaluating building tanks, or performing additional follow-up sampling.
Our PFAS testing is ideal for:
• Apartment households wanting peace of mind
• Schools and daycare facilities requiring compliance assurance
• Commercial landlords needing documentation
• Medical offices and labs seeking contaminant-free water
• Renovated buildings with mixed plumbing materials
With PFAS scrutiny increasing across New York State, certified testing is the only way to verify the real PFAS levels in your tap water.
Bacterial contamination and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pose two very different but serious risks to NYC buildings. While NYC’s municipal water is disinfected and monitored, contamination can still occur inside building plumbing systems, rooftop storage tanks, dead-end lines, or poorly maintained fixtures. Buildings with stagnant piping, inconsistent water use, or older tank systems may be especially vulnerable to coliform bacteria, E. coli, Legionella, or biofilm formation.
Our certified bacterial testing uses EPA-approved microbiological methods to determine whether harmful bacteria are present in your drinking water. For apartment units, we collect tap samples directly from kitchen and bathroom faucets. For larger buildings, we offer multi-point sampling of risers, water tanks, and mechanical rooms to diagnose contamination sources. If bacteria are detected we will expedite verbal alerts to you (when available) ahead of reporting.
VOCs such as solvents, fuel byproducts, cleaning chemicals, and industrial compounds can also enter tap water through leaching pipes, building contamination, underground spills, or old tank materials. These contaminants often create odors, unusual tastes, or health risks ranging from irritation to long-term toxicity. NYC buildings near former industrial sites or gas stations may have a higher risk of VOC intrusion.
We conduct VOC testing through our accredited lab channels using EPA Method 524.2 and related standards, providing a comprehensive profile of hazardous organic compounds. Results are delivered with clear interpretations and whether levels exceed state or federal guidelines.
Whether you manage a multifamily property, run a business, or live in an apartment with unexplained odors or water quality issues, our bacteria and VOC testing gives you the data needed to address contamination effectively and restore safe water throughout your building.