Lead in Water

A toxic heavy metal that can leach into water from old pipes.

Lead is a toxic heavy metal with no safe level in drinking water — the EPA’s health goal is zero. It most often enters water quietly, through corrosion of older pipes, solder joints, and fixtures, which means clear, good-tasting water can still carry it. Testing is the only way to know.

What it is

Lead poses serious health risks even in small amounts, particularly to children and during pregnancy — it’s linked to developmental delays, learning difficulties, kidney damage, and high blood pressure. Because it accumulates in the body, ongoing low-level exposure matters as much as a single high reading.

How it gets into water

The most common route is corrosion: older lead pipes, lead solder joints, and brass fixtures releasing metal into the water sitting in them. Homes built before lead plumbing restrictions, and water that sits overnight in pipes, carry the highest risk. Industrial pollution can also contribute.

What a result can tell you

The EPA action level is 0.015 mg/L — a result at or above it means act. A detection is a clear reason to stop drinking the water, use a certified lead filter or bottled water in the meantime, and confirm with a certified laboratory test. Flushing taps after water has sat, and using cold water for cooking, reduce exposure while you address the source.

What it can’t tell you

A strip is a screening tool — it can’t pinpoint which pipe or fixture is the source, and low-level contamination near the threshold deserves lab confirmation either way. If anyone in the household may have been exposed, especially children, a healthcare provider can arrange a simple blood lead test.