Lead

At a glance: Lead gets into drinking water mostly from lead service lines, solder and brass fixtures, not from the water source itself. There is no known safe level for children, and EPA’s health goal is zero. If your home might have lead plumbing, test a first-draw sample, drink and cook with cold water only, and use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for lead at the kitchen tap.

You cannot see, smell or taste lead in water. Testing is the only way to know.

What it is and where it comes from

Lead is a metal that dissolves into water as it sits in, or flows through, plumbing that contains it. The CDC names lead pipes, faucets and plumbing fixtures as the most common sources. EPA says the most significant source in homes that have one is a lead service line, the pipe connecting the house to the water main.

Age of the house is a strong clue. EPA says homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. Newer materials can still contain small amounts: under the Safe Drinking Water Act, “lead-free” means a weighted average of no more than 0.25% lead on wetted pipe and fixture surfaces, and 0.2% in solder.

Water chemistry matters too. EPA notes lead leaches more when water is acidic or low in minerals. That makes lead a concern on private wells with low pH, not just in older cities. EPA’s health table also lists erosion of natural deposits as a source.

Health and household effects

Lead is a health problem, not a household nuisance. It causes no stains, smell or taste at the levels found in tap water.

EPA describes the effects:

• Children: behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems and anemia, even at low levels.
• Pregnancy: lead crosses the placenta and can reduce fetal growth and cause premature birth.
• Adults: increased blood pressure, and reduced kidney and reproductive function.

The CDC says no safe blood lead level has been identified for young children, and that infants who drink formula made with lead-contaminated tap water may be at higher risk. A blood lead test is the way to find out whether someone has been exposed.

Limits and what they mean

Standard	Level	What it means
EPA health goal (MCLG)	Zero	No level is considered safe
EPA action level, current	15 µg/L	If more than 10% of a utility’s tap samples exceed it, the utility must act
EPA action level from November 1, 2027	10 µg/L	Set by the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements
WHO guideline	10 µg/L	Provisional international guideline

The action level is a trigger for corrosion control, public notice and pipe replacement by the utility. It is not a line between safe and unsafe water in your home. The 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, finalized in October 2024, also require most utilities to replace lead service lines within 10 years. Private wells are not covered by any of these rules.

How to test

Lead levels vary with how long water has been sitting, so how you sample matters.

• First-draw sample: collect the first water out of the tap after it has sat unused for at least six hours, usually overnight. This shows the worst case.
• Flushed sample: collect after running the water. Comparing the two shows whether the lead is coming from the fixture and nearby pipes or from further back, such as a service line.

EPA puts the cost of a lead test at $20 to $100. Wisconsin’s state lab charges $38, and Penn State’s lab tests first-draw and running water together for $125. Use a state-certified lab, and ask your utility first: it can tell you what your service line is made of. For wells, add pH and copper, which Penn State bundles in its corrosivity package. Our well testing guide covers labs and sampling.

Treatment options

Because lead usually enters inside your plumbing, the most reliable protection is at the tap you drink from.

Method	How well it works	Certification to look for	Cost range
Carbon filter certified for lead (activated carbon): pitcher, faucet or under-sink	High	NSF/ANSI 53 lead reduction plus NSF/ANSI 42 Class I particulate	$10 to $100
Reverse osmosis	High	NSF/ANSI 58 lead reduction	$300 to $1,500
Distillation	High	NSF/ANSI 62	$300 to $1,200
Whole-house filter	Low for lead added by indoor plumbing	Rarely certified for lead	Not recommended for lead alone
Neutralizer for acidic well water (specialty media)	Reduces corrosion; does not remove lead	None	Get a quote

Cost ranges are Minnesota Department of Health estimates based on 2017 and 2018 quotes, low end self-installed and high end professionally installed.

EPA’s consumer tool lists pitcher and point-of-use filters certified to reduce lead to 5 ppb or less. Use cold water for drinking, cooking and baby formula, because hot water can carry more lead, and replace filter cartridges on schedule. The filter finder shows which products we track hold a lead claim, and whole-house filter vs reverse osmosis explains why point of use usually wins for metals.

If you are also concerned about PFAS or other contaminants, check your system on the PFAS lookup: a certified RO unit can address several problems at one tap.

When to call a professional

Call your water utility to find out whether you have a lead service line and when it is scheduled for replacement. Replacing the line is the permanent fix.

Hire a licensed plumber to replace lead solder, old brass fixtures or galvanized pipes that sat downstream of a lead line. On a well with acidic water, a water treatment professional can size a neutralizer, and you should retest lead and copper afterward.

If you are pregnant, or a child in your home may have been exposed, ask your doctor about a blood lead test and contact your local health department.