Abstract
The authors have determined the speciation of lead in three different tap waters, using a scheme which combines several established techniques including anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). A sample of tap water from Glasgow contained the highest concentration of total lead 272 mg per ml and the highest percentage of ASV labile lead . There was little or no free ionic lead in any of the samples but significant amounts of colloidal and particulate lead . The mechanism of plumbosolvency and the limited effectiveness of reducing lead by using chelating resin at the consumer's tap, are discussed.