How to check your water for lead
You can't see, taste or smell lead in water, so testing is the only way to know. To test water for lead, ask your water utility to test your tap, or use a state-certified lab. Look up your service line in the utility's inventory too. Until you have results, drink and cook with cold water only, and make baby formula the same way.
Where lead in drinking water comes from
Lead usually gets into water inside the pipes, not at the treatment plant. It dissolves as plumbing corrodes, especially when water is acidic or low in minerals. EPA says lead service lines, the pipes from the main to your house, are typically the largest source. Without one, the likely sources are brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and lead solder. Up to 9 million homes still connect through lead pipes, EPA estimates.
That means you're checking two things: the water at your tap and the line coming into your house. The age of the house helps. Federal law barred lead pipes, solder and fittings after June 1986, and homes built after your state's ban date should have less lead in their plumbing.
Water systems must keep a publicly accessible inventory of service lines and notify you if you're served by a lead line, a galvanized line that may be contaminated, or a line of unknown material. To check your own, look where the pipe enters the house, often near the meter. EPA says lead is a dull gray metal you can scratch with a house key. If the pipe isn't visible, ask your utility.
How to test water for lead, step by step
- Call your water utility
Ask if it offers lead testing and how to collect the sample. Read its yearly Consumer Confidence Report too, which lists detected lead.
- Look up your address
Find your service line in the utility's inventory, and note if it's listed as lead, galvanized or unknown.
- Inspect the pipe
Find where the line enters the house and gently scratch it with a key. Take a photo for your records.
- Use a certified lab if needed
If your utility doesn't test, your state drinking water office can point you to a certified lab.
- Collect the sample as directed
Follow the lab's instructions exactly. Water that has sat in the pipes often gives the most useful reading, so timing matters.
- Protect yourself meanwhile
Stick to cold water for drinking, cooking and formula, and flush the tap by running water or doing a load of laundry first.
- Clean your aerators
Unscrew the small screens at faucet tips and rinse them regularly, since lead particles can collect there.
How to test water for lead and read your results
| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No lead detected | Good news for that sample. Levels can vary | Clean aerators and keep using cold water for drinking |
| Any lead detected | EPA says no level of lead in drinking water is safe | Use a certified filter and look for the source |
| Above 10 ppb (0.010 mg/L) | The revised federal action level, starting November 1, 2027 | Filter now and call your utility |
| Above 15 ppb (0.015 mg/L) | The current federal action level | Filter now, call your utility and ask about next steps |
| Service line is lead, galvanized or unknown | You may have the largest source | Ask about the replacement schedule and any funding |
Those action levels test whether a whole water system controls corrosion. They aren't a safety line for your home, so a result under them isn't an all clear. If you're pregnant or have young children and lead is found, talk to your doctor.
Filters for lead in water and lead pipe replacement
Choose a filter tested to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 with a claim of lead reduction. EPA also recommends looking for NSF/ANSI 42 for particulate reduction (Class I). Check for a certification mark, then look the product up in the certifier's directory. Replace cartridges on schedule, because expired ones work less well, and don't run hot water through the filter. Boiling doesn't remove lead.
On a lead line, ask the utility how long to flush your tap, because the time depends on the line's length. Keep in mind that nearby construction can disturb a lead line and raise lead levels.
Under EPA's newer rule, most systems must replace lead lines within 10 years, with compliance expected from late 2027. EPA's Q&A doesn't say who pays for the part on your property, so ask your utility about cost and any local programs. Hire a licensed plumber for any pipe work, and check local permit rules.
Safe level of lead in water and other questions
Does boiling water remove lead?
No. EPA says boiling doesn't remove lead. Use a filter certified for lead reduction, or another safe water source.
Is hot tap water worse for lead?
Yes. Hot water dissolves more lead, so EPA says never to drink, cook with or make baby formula from hot tap water.
What level of lead in water is safe?
EPA says there's no safe level of lead in drinking water. The 15 ppb action level, dropping to 10 ppb in November 2027, is a system-wide trigger and not a health limit for your home.
What you’ll need
Sources: EPA
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.