D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3252
Testing.
Operative Text
(a) The Mayor shall require the owner of a multiple dwelling to order a water lead level test kit from WASA to sample the tap water in a dwelling or rooming unit for the presence of lead within 15 calendar days of a written request to do so by a rental tenant or owner-occupant of the unit. The rental tenant or owner-occupant shall also send a copy of this written request to the Mayor. (b) (1) The owner shall order a water lead level test kit for each rental tenant and owner-occupant of the dwelling who requests a test, up to a maximum of 2% of the total units in the multiple dwelling or 6 units, whichever is less. In multiple dwellings of less than 50 units, the owner shall order at least one water lead level test kit if requested to by a rental tenant or owner-occupant of the dwelling. (2) An owner shall be required to order a water lead level test kit pursuant to this chapter no more than once in a 6-month period for each unit whose rental tenant or owner-occupant requests a test kit. (c) WASA shall send a water lead level test kit to each owner upon request. At the time WASA sends a water lead level test kit to an owner in response to a request pursuant to this chapter, WASA shall also send written notice to the Mayor that it has sent the water lead level test kit. (d) Within 15 calendar days of receiving the water lead level test kit from WASA, the owner shall provide the water lead level test kit to an occupant of each unit being tested and send written certification to the Mayor that the owner has provided the kit. (e) The rental tenant or owner-occupant of the unit being tested shall send a sample of the water it collects from the unit to WASA to have it tested for the lead level. (f) WASA shall ensure the conducting of a lead level test of the water sample at its expense and shall mail the result of the water lead level test to both the dwelling owner and to the rental tenant or owner-occupant of the unit in which the water sample was collected when the result is available. (g) Within 15 calendar days of receiving the water lead level test result from WASA, the owner shall: (1) Provide a written copy of the water lead level test result to any rental tenant or owner-occupant of the multiple dwelling who requests a copy of the test result and post the test result in a conspicuous place on the dwelling’s premises; and (2) Send written certification to the Mayor that the owner has provided a written copy of, and posted, the water lead level test result in the manner prescribed by this subsection.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3251 et seq. § 42-3252, owners of multiple dwellings in the District of Columbia are required to arrange lead-level water testing when requested by tenants or owner-occupants. The process involves ordering a test kit from WASA within 15 days of a written request, distributing the kit to the occupant, and then sharing the results with all who request them and posting results on the premises. WASA conducts the actual laboratory analysis at its own expense and mails results to both the owner and the requesting occupant.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Compliance with D.C. Code § 42-3251 et seq. § 42-3252 generally means that a property owner of a multiple dwelling orders a WASA water lead level test kit within 15 calendar days of receiving a written tenant or owner-occupant request, while also sending a copy of the written certification to the Mayor. Compliant operators then deliver the kit to the occupant within 15 days of receiving it from WASA and document that delivery in writing to the Mayor. Once WASA returns test results, compliant owners post those results conspicuously on the premises, provide copies to any occupant who requests one, and again certify in writing to the Mayor that they have done so — all within 15 calendar days of receiving the results.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3251 et seq. § 42-3252 gives rental tenants in multiple dwellings the right to request a water lead level test by submitting a written request to the building owner and sending a copy to the Mayor. Once the owner provides the WASA test kit, the tenant collects a water sample and sends it to WASA, which performs the analysis at no cost to the tenant and mails results directly to the tenant. Tenants who believe an owner has not followed the required steps — such as failing to order the kit or share results within the 15-day windows — may consider contacting the Mayor's office, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or exploring other enforcement paths available under District law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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