Lead is a concern because it can cause immediate effects at high doses and long-term effects if it builds up in the body over many years. Lead can cause brain and kidney damage in addition to effects on the blood and vitamin D metabolism. Children are more vulnerable to lead exposure because their bodies are smaller, and because they are still developing. Pregnant women and their unborn babies are also at higher risk for negative health effects associated with lead exposure.

 

If you are concerned that you or a family member may have been exposed to lead, consult with your family doctor or pediatrician to receive a blood test for lead and learn more about the health effects associated with exposure.

Federal regulation requires all community drinking water systems to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years of the promulgation of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) announced on Oct. 8, 2024. The LCRI also requires more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold requiring communities to take action to protect people from lead exposure in water. In addition, the rule improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes, and plans for replacing them.

Among the key requirements in the LCRI are:

• All systems to fully replace all lead and galvanized requiring replacement service lines within 13 years of publication when a community water system has “access” to the service line. The final rule incorporates a cumulative average replacement rate compliance metric as well as the fixed deadline. The proposed rule’s explicit extended timeframe for systems with very large numbers of service lines requiring replacement was removed in the final rule.
• All systems to determine materials of all service lines within 13 years of publication and validate non-lead service lines are accurately classified through visual inspection of a sample set of non-lead service lines at two points in each service line within 10 years of publication.
• Addition of lead connectors to service line inventory beginning three years after publication. Connectors are to be removed when encountered.
• Prohibits partial lead and galvanized requiring replacement service line replacement.
• Communication with consumers and provision of filters is required when lead, galvanized requiring replacement, and lead status unknown service lines as well as connectors are replaced. The final rule expands the list of disturbances warranting customer education and provision of filters.
• The lead trigger level was eliminated, lead action level was lowered to 10 µg/L, and associate monitoring tiers and sampling protocol revised. The tiers for sample site selection and the data used to make the action level compliance calculation were modified in the final rule.
• Systems exceeding the lead action level multiple times to provide filters to any service area occupant upon request.
• Notification of compliance monitoring site households of lead and copper monitoring results within 3 business days of receiving results.
• Changes to compliance monitoring for lead will apply to all systems on the same schedule regardless of system size or current sampling schedule.

In addition to the LCRI, an earlier Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) rule includes regulations by which water utilities must comply, including:

• Preparation such that the system can meet Tier 1 public notice requirements in the event of a system lead action level exceedance (e.g., communitywide notice within 24 hours of becoming aware of the exceedance).
• Submission of a service line inventory by Oct. 16 that identifies all service lines in a system’s service area as either lead, galvanized requiring replacement (GRR), non-lead, or lead status unknown. This includes making the inventory publicly available. EPA has provided guidance and individual state primacy agencies have specified instructions for inventory development and submittal.
• Notification to customers whose service line is lead, GRR or lead status unknown. With inventories due by Oct. 16, initial customer notification within 30 days of official inventory submittal is no later than Nov. 15.

Further explanation of the LCRR is available in a fact sheet distributed by EPA in April 2024.

While lead regulations guide water system actions to manage the corrosivity of water and remove sources of lead under their control, the Safe Drinking Water Act requires manufacturers of plumbing products used in buildings and water systems to be lead-free. Congress has set and then revised the definition of “lead-free.” In 1986 Congress banned the use of lead pipe and set an upper limit on the amount of lead allowed in alloys used in plumbing like brass and bronze. In 2011, Congress reduced that allowable level of lead further in the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act. As of Jan. 4, 2014, for a plumbing product to be sold in the United States for a use where it may come in contact with drinking water it has to meet this standard. EPA relies on testing to certify compliance with this requirement. When plumbing products meet these standards, the product and/or its packaging will contain markings so that plumbers and homeowners can tell the product is lead-free. EPA has a useful fact sheet with these markings.

Water leaving a treatment plant and traveling through water mains is almost always free of lead. However, lead is sometimes present in service lines connecting older homes to the water system or in home fixtures and plumbing. Water systems adjust the water’s chemistry at the treatment plant to minimize the possibility of lead dissolving into the water.

If your drinking water never comes into contact with lead materials, you are not at risk. Most lead materials were effectively banned in the 1980s, so if your home was built after that decade, lead is unlikely to be a concern. If you live in an older structure, there are steps you can take to see if you may be at risk. Contact your water provider to see if it has home testing options available. If not, it can help you find a certified laboratory to test your water.

Your utility may or may not know if you have a lead service line. If not, you can find out yourself or with the help of a licensed plumber. Service lines typically enter the home in the basement or crawl space. If the pipe is lead, it will have a dull finish that shines brightly when scratched with a key or coin. Using a magnet can also help you identify a lead pipe, because even a strong magnet will not cling to lead. A magnet will stick to a galvanized pipe but will not stick to a copper, lead or plastic pipe.

A licensed plumber can inspect both your service line and other materials in contact with your drinking water.

Soft water, which has fewer dissolved minerals, and water that is more acidic and higher in dissolved oxygen, can be more corrosive, increasing the risk of lead contamination. Watch for frequent leaks, discolored water and stained dishes or clothes, as these are all signs of corrosive water. Also, check with your local water utility to find out more about whether your water is corrosive and what can be done. You can also find out if your public supply system contains any lead piping.

Review Denver Water's illustration on the most common source of lead in treated drinking water.

If you're concerned about lead in your drinking water, you can take several steps to limit possible exposure. Read AWWA's Lead - Keep Your Water Safe brochure for guidance.

Remember, you must flush each drinking water faucet after long periods of non-use for this strategy to be effective. Use the flushed water for non-potable purposes such as watering plants or washing dishes.

• Testing at the tap is the only way to measure the lead levels in your home or workplace. You can’t see, smell or taste lead in your water. If you choose to have your tap water tested, be sure to use a properly certified laboratory. Testing usually costs between $20 and $100. To find a state certified laboratory, contact a state certification officer.
• Flush your tap water. Flushing the tap is particularly important when the faucet has gone unused for more than a few hours. It takes time for lead to dissolve into water, so the first water drawn from the tap in the morning or after a long period of non-use can contain higher levels of lead. Flushing clears standing water from your plumbing and home service line to ensure you are getting drinking water from the main, where lead is rarely present.

• Use only cold water for cooking or drinking. Lead leaches more easily into hot water than cold water.
• Boiling water DOES NOT remove lead.
• After moving into a new home, remove faucet strainers and rinse them to remove any debris. This should be done periodically to remove accumulated debris as well.

Treatment and Removal Devices

Some home treatment devices remove lead, but not all do. In order to make a well-informed and cost-effective decision, consider:

• Checking with your water system or consumer confidence report to learn if your household is at risk
• Identifying a device that has been independently certified to remove lead.

Look for devices that have been certified against NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for total lead removal and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for fine particulates (Class I). There are a number of certification organizations. NSF International, Water Quality Association, Underwriters Laboratories and CSA International all certify home treatment products for removal of contaminants. If a home treatment device is used, it is very important to follow the manufacturer's operation and maintenance instructions carefully to make sure the device functions properly.

If you get your drinking water from a private well, you should have your water tested by a certified laboratory at least once a year. A 2020 study found children that live in homes that use private wells were 25% more likely to have elevated lead levels in their blood than children served by community water systems.

You can find information on how to sample for lead in your drinking water by contacting your state water laboratory certification officer. Contact information for your state can be found at EPA’s drinking water lab certification page. Additional information about well water testing from EPA is available on its private drinking water well FAQ page.

• AWWA's Lead and Your Water - Frequently Asked Questions document
• EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791
• National Lead Information Center: 1-800-LEAD-FYI