I've got two problems with this post

They show that several cities have advised residents to use questionable methods when conducting official tests for lead content. These include encouraging testers to run taps for several minutes to flush out lead from the pipes or even removing the filter from taps. Such methods have been criticized by the EPA for not providing accurate results, with the agency telling authorities not to use them.

Why has this been criticized? The point of this is to identify if public pipes are the source of high metal levels. Running the water for a few minutes is needed in order to flush water that has sat in the pipes of the residence or private property. The municipality is not responsible for deteriorating pipes on private property if I'm not mistaken.

The Philadelphia water department’s instructions to residents in November last year were to “remove the aerator from the faucet. Leave the aerator off until sampling is completed”. This practice was deemed “against the intent of the monitoring protocol” in 2008 by the EPA

Again, this is a source that could create a false positive of high metal contamination from the perspective of the municipality. Removing the aerator eliminates a possible point of contamination.

These aren't manipulations to cover up bad results on heavy metals for public water lines. These are preventative measures so they do not get false positives for the public pipes.

I work in pharma manufacturing. Every week we test every pull source for purified water. There are no aerators, and it is mandatory to run the line prior to pulling the test sample. You are looking to get a snap shot of what is going on in the majority of the system not what is happening at the pull site.

This article is fear mongering at its best.