Lead in Drinking Water
Lead gets into tap water mainly from old pipes and plumbing, not from the water source. There is no known safe level of lead in blood for children. The good news is that you can find out whether you have a problem, and take steps to reduce it.
- Homeowners
- Renters
- Families
Where it comes from
- Lead service lines, the pipe from the street main to your home. These are common in older cities.
- Lead solder on copper pipes in homes built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned in drinking water plumbing).
- Old brass faucets, fittings and valves. Even “lead-free” fixtures made before 2014 could contain more lead than current rules allow.
- Water that sits in pipes for hours, or water that is corrosive, picks up more lead.
Health risks
- Young children and unborn babies are most at risk. Lead can harm brain development, learning and behavior.
- In adults, lead can raise blood pressure, harm kidneys and affect pregnancy.
- You can’t see, smell or taste lead in water.
Lead exposure also comes from paint, dust and soil. See Lead & Asbestos in Older Homes.
Find out if you have it
- Ask your water utility. Many have lead service line inventories and will tell you whether your line is lead, and some test free.
- Look at the pipe where it enters your home. A lead pipe is dull gray, soft, and scratches shiny with a coin, and a magnet won’t stick. (If you aren’t sure, ask a plumber.)
- Have your water tested by a state-certified lab. Your health department or utility can point you to one. Follow the lab’s directions for sampling.
The EPA’s action level for public water systems has been 15 parts per billion (ppb), and EPA has finalized stricter rules that lower it. Rules are changing, so check EPA’s current page. But health experts say no level is truly safe for children, so any detection is worth acting on.
Reduce your exposure now
- Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and baby formula. Hot water dissolves more lead.
- Flush your tap before using it if the water has sat for several hours, such as in the morning. Run it until it turns cold, which can take from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes, longer with a lead service line. Your utility can give guidance.
- Use a filter certified to remove lead (look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53 on the package, specifically for lead), and replace cartridges on schedule.
- Clean faucet aerators (screens) regularly, because particles can collect there.
- Consider bottled water for infant formula until you know the results.
- Boiling does not remove lead. It can make it more concentrated.
- Don’t use water softeners as a lead fix. They don’t reliably remove it.
Permanent fixes
- Replace a lead service line. Many utilities and states now have replacement programs and funding. Don’t replace only part of the line without guidance, because that can temporarily raise lead levels.
- Replace old brass fixtures with ones certified “lead-free” under current standards, and have old lead solder joints repaired by a licensed plumber.
If you rent
Ask your landlord and water utility about lead pipes and test results, and put requests in writing. In some places landlords have duties to disclose or fix lead hazards. See Tenant Safety Rights.
If a child may have been exposed
Talk to your child’s doctor about a blood lead test. Your local health department can also help.
Standards & references
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