Toronto's water testing system is under question after more than 1,000 homes were checked for lead contamination last week.

The city's free testing for lead takes ones sample after letting the water run from the tap for five minutes.

Under the proposed provincial regulations, two samples will be taken with the first gathered as soon as the faucet is turned on.

The province's chief water inspector says by taking two samples, inspector's can better pin point whether contamination stems from the city's pipes or the resident's pipes.

"The first sample is likely your plumbing with a little bit of your distribution line. The second litre is your actual service line," Jim Smith, Ontario's Chief Drinking Water Inspector, told CTV News on Wednesday.

More than 1,200 homes were tested for lead contamination after results from the previous week found 10 per cent of samples submitted exceeded the province's recommended lead levels.

City officials maintain the free testing is still an accurate assessment of lead contamination.

"I'm confident in it and I would suggest property owners still contact the city if they want their water tested for lead," Board of Health Vice-Chair and councillor Janet Davis told CTV News on Wednesday.

Councillor Davis said the city is undecided whether it will retest the homes when the new provincial regulations are implemented in August.

"It will impose a much great amount of time to do the testing, as well as, cost," Davis said.

Residents said that cost and time don't compare to having safe drinking water.

"Go with the one that is more expensive if it's going to be more accurate. I would think, wouldn't you," one Toronto resident told CTV News on Wednesday.

An estimated 65,000 homes in Toronto, a little less than 15 per cent, have some sort of lead connection service.

The city is spending $7 million a year to phase lead piping out.

Health experts say lead in drinking water can cause a variety of adverse health effects.

In babies and children, lead exposure can result in delays in physical and mental development, along with slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, it could cause kidney problems or high blood pressure.

With a report from CTV's Roger Petersen