Lead in Drinking Water

What is Lead?

Lead is a toxic metal that was widely used in household plumbing, solder, and service lines connecting homes to water mains until it was banned in 1986. Unlike most contaminants, lead typically enters your water not from the treatment plant but from the pipes in and around your own home. When water sits in lead pipes or passes through lead solder joints, the metal slowly dissolves into the water you drink and cook with. Homes built before 1986 are at the highest risk, but even newer homes may have fixtures containing small amounts of lead.

The health effects of lead exposure are serious and well-documented. In children, even low levels of lead can cause irreversible damage to brain development, resulting in lower IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. In adults, long-term exposure contributes to kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive issues. There is no safe level of lead exposure, which is why the EPA set the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) at zero.

If your home was built before 1986 or you live in an older neighborhood, testing your water is especially important. Simple first-draw tests (testing water that has been sitting in your pipes overnight) can reveal whether lead is leaching into your supply. Many local water utilities offer free lead testing kits, and you can also purchase certified test kits online or through hardware stores.

Health Effects

Delays in physical or mental development in infants and children; kidney problems and high blood pressure in adults

How Does Lead Get Into Water?

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits

Who Is Most at Risk?

Infants, young children, and pregnant women are most vulnerable to lead exposure because it can cause irreversible developmental damage to growing brains and nervous systems.

How to Remove Lead

NSF-certified point-of-use reverse osmosis filter
NSF 53-certified activated carbon filter (pitcher or faucet-mount)
Distillation systems
Flushing pipes by running cold water for 1-2 minutes before use
Replacing lead service lines (contact your water utility about programs)

Testing Your Water

Request a free lead test kit from your local water utility, or purchase an EPA-certified test kit. Use a first-draw sample (water sitting in pipes for 6+ hours) for the most accurate reading. Labs accredited by your state can analyze samples for $20-50.

Quick Facts