Lead in Drinking Water
EPA limits, health effects, and what to do if your water is affected.
🩨 Health Effects
No safe level of lead exposure is known. Lead causes serious brain and nervous system damage, especially in children under 6 and pregnant women. Even low levels can reduce IQ, impair hearing, and cause learning and behavior problems in children. Adults face risks of high blood pressure and kidney damage.
📍 Sources in Water
Lead enters tap water from corroding pipes, solder, and brass fixtures inside homes and buildings, not from the source water. Homes built before 1986 are most likely to have lead pipes or lead solder. The water utility may deliver lead-free water, but lead can leach in as it travels through older plumbing.
✅ What To Do
Run the cold water tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking if water has been sitting in pipes (overnight or after being away). Always use cold water for drinking and cooking. Consider an NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter. Get your water tested if you have a child under 6 or are pregnant.
Check your tap water for Lead
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had Lead violations, plus lead testing results and an overall safety grade.
Search your ZIP code →Data from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). MCLs reflect minimum federal standards; some contaminants may pose health risks below these thresholds.