Water: Lead
Basic Information
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
This page has been archived and replaced to: https://owpubauthor.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/lead.cfm
Lead Rule at a Glance
Action Level for Treatment Technique
in parts per million (ppm)
Lead = 0.015 ppm
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal Lead = 0 ppm
Health Effects
Infants and children: Delays in physical or mental development; children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities.
Adults: Kidney problems; high blood pressure
Sources of contamination
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits.
Chemical Abstract Service Registry Number
7439-92-1
For other contaminants and their MCLs, visit the MCL list page.
For more information on lead:
- Consumer Information
(800) 424-LEAD - Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(800) 426-4791 - Technical Information
202-554-1404 - More info on lead
Información Básica sobre el Plomo en Agua Potable en Español
Lead in drinking water at home
Lead in water at schools and child care facilities
What is the government doing about the problem of lead in drinking water?
What is lead?
Lead is a toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around homes. Even at low levels, lead may cause a range of health effects including behavioral problems and learning disabilities. Children six years old and under are most at risk because this is when the brain is developing. The primary source of lead exposure for most children is lead-based paint in older homes. Lead in drinking water can add to that exposure.
How does lead get into tap water?
Typically, lead gets into your water after the water leaves your local treatment plant or your well. That is, the source of lead in your home's water is most likely from pipes or solder in your home's own plumbing. The most common cause is corrosion, a reaction between the water and the lead pipes or solder. Dissolved oxygen, low pH (acidity) and low mineral content in water are common causes of corrosion. All kinds of water, however, may have high levels of lead.
What are the health effects of lead?
The health effects of lead are most severe for infants and children. For infants and children, exposure to high levels of lead in drinking water can result in delays in physical or mental development. For adults, it can result in kidney problems or high blood pressure. Although the main sources of exposure to lead are ingesting paint chips and inhaling dust, EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human exposure to lead may come from lead in drinking water. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water.
How can I reduce lead in drinking water at home?
Flush your pipes before drinking, and only use cold water for consumption. The more time water has been sitting in your home's pipes, the more lead it may contain. Anytime the water in a particular faucet has not been used for six hours or longer, "flush" your cold-water pipes by running the water until it becomes as cold as it will get. This could take as little as five to thirty seconds if there has been recent heavy water use such as showering or toilet flushing. Otherwise, it could take two minutes or longer. Your water utility will inform you if longer flushing times are needed to respond to local conditions.
Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking, and especially for making baby formula. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead. The two actions recommended above are very important to the health of your family. They will probably be effective in reducing lead levels because most of the lead in household water usually comes from the plumbing in your house, not from the local water supply.
How can I tell if my water contains too much lead?
You should have your water tested for lead by a certified laboratory. (Lists are available from your state or local drinking water authority.) Testing costs between $20 and $100. Since you cannot see, taste, or smell lead dissolved in water, testing is the only sure way of telling whether there are harmful quantities of lead in your drinking water. You should be particularly suspicious if your home has lead pipes (lead is a dull gray metal that is soft enough to be easily scratched with a house key), if you see signs of corrosion (frequent leaks, rust-colored water, stained dishes or laundry, or if your non-plastic plumbing is less than five years old. Your water supplier may have useful information, including whether the service connector used in your home or area is made of lead. Testing is especially important in high-rise buildings where flushing might not work.
Should I be concerned about lead in drinking water in my child's school or child care facility?
Children spend a significant part of their days at school or in a child care facility. The faucets that provide water used for consumption, including drinking, cooking lunch, and preparing juice and infant formula, should be tested.
What are the legal limits regarding lead and drinking water?
Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act prohibits any person from introducing into commerce any pipe, or plumbing fitting or fixture that is not lead free after August 6, 1998, except for a pipe that is used in manufacturing or industrial processing. The law also required development of a voluntary standard to limit the leaching of lead into the drinking water for devices that are intended by the manufacturer to dispense water for human ingestion.
Lead and copper in drinking water are regulated by a treatment technique that requires systems to control the corrosiveness of their water. If more than 10% of tap water samples exceed the action level of 15 parts per billion, water systems must take additional steps to reduce corrosivity.