Lead in Drinking Water

• Lead in Drinking Water
• Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water
• Lead and Copper Rule

Lead, a metal found in natural deposits, is commonly used in household plumbing materials and water service lines. The greatest exposure to lead is swallowing or breathing in lead paint chips and dust.

But lead in drinking water can also cause a variety of adverse health effects. In babies and children, exposure to lead in drinking water above the action level can result in delays in physical and mental development, along with slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. In adults, it can cause increases in blood pressure. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.

Lead is rarely found in source water, but enters tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. However, new homes are also at risk: even legally “lead-free” plumbing may contain up to 8 percent lead. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach significant amounts of lead into the water, especially hot water.

For more information on lead contamination, see the following links in our sidebar or the links listed below:

Fact Sheets

• Is There Lead in My Drinking Water?
• Basic Information
• Consumer Fact Sheet

Local Lead Information

• Where You Live
• For District of Columbia Residents

Regulatory Information

• Lead's Action Level
• Regulatory Information
  • 2007 Revisions to Regulations Controlling Lead in Drinking Water
• Compliance Help

Efforts to Support Implementation

• National Review of LCR Implementation and Drinking Water Lead Reduction Plan
• Lead in Schools and Child Care Facilities
  • Memorandum of Understanding on Reducing Lead Levels in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities