In early 1991, a federal agency requested the assistance of the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Drinking Water Research Division (DWRD) to solve a problem of high lead in the drinking water of a research facility built to house approximately 1000 employees. The results of the water usage study indicated that high lead levels in water from a new building may take a long time to drop under conditions of "normal" water usage; in the case of the agency building, greater than 8 months. Lead levels of the water samples taken bi-weekly showed overall high and inconsistent lead levels with the occurrence of random lead spikes. Sources of lead were identified as solder joints and brass fixtures. Extraordinarily high lead concentrations or spikes in that data were probably due to lead-containing particulate material. Zinc orthophosphate, general orthophosphate, and sodium silicate treatment effectively and quickly reduced lead levels and the occurrence of lead spikes. All treatments also reduced copper concentrations.