Lead in Drinking Water: How It Gets In, Health Risks, and How to Remove It
6 to 10 million American homes still have lead service lines. Learn how lead enters your water, what...
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Check Your Utility's Reported Lead Levels
Find Lead Levels in Your Water by Zip Code
Interactive Lookup
Enter your zip code to see your water utility's most recent reported lead level, how it compares to federal action levels, and what to do next. Data through Q1 2026.
Finding lead data for your area...
Non-Detect (0 PPB)
Trace (Below 5 PPB)
Elevated (5-10 PPB)
Exceeds 2027 Level (10-15 PPB)
Above Action Level (15+ PPB)
Each dot is a water system with reported lead results in our aggregated regulatory monitoring database, colored by its most recent 90th percentile value and sized by population served. Dot locations are approximate service-area positions (ZIP centroids), not facility addresses. Toggle state shading for the statewide median view, or search your zip code above to find your own utility.
Lead Level Results
Latest Lead Level
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PPB (µg/L) · 90th percentile
Historical Max
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PPB
Classification
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Population Served
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people
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Our Recommendation
Based on your reported lead level...
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Other water systems serving this zip code
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Our Recommendation
Based on your reported lead level...
How to Read This Number
- The 90th percentile is not your tap. It is a system-level compliance statistic: 90% of sampled high-risk taps were at or below it, and 10% were above it. Lead usually enters water from a building's own service line, solder, and fixtures, so a low or even non-detect system value does not guarantee any individual tap. Testing your own tap is the only way to know.
- There is no maximum contaminant level (MCL) for lead. The action level is a treatment-technique trigger for corrosion control, not a health-based safety line. EPA's health goal (MCLG) for lead is zero.
- The action level is changing: 15 PPB today, 10 PPB under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, with compliance beginning in 2027.
- Check the period date. Some systems' newest record is years or decades old; pre-2000s maximums often predate modern corrosion control.
- Source: U.S. EPA regulatory monitoring records, updated quarterly.
What's Next?
How to Check Lead in Your Water
Look up your water utility's reported lead level in seconds. No account required.
1
Enter Your Zip Code
Type your 5-digit zip code into the search box above, or click "Use My Location" to automatically detect your area using GPS.
2
View Your Reported Lead Level
Instantly see your water system's most recent reported lead result, the monitoring period it covers, the historical maximum, and a color-coded classification from non-detect to above the action level.
3
Get Personalized Solutions
Based on the reported level, we'll recommend next steps, from testing your own tap to lead water filters sized for your home.
What Your Lead Result Means
Lead in water is measured in parts per billion (PPB, the same as µg/L). This scale shows how a reported 90th-percentile result reads and what to do at each level.
Non-Detect
0 PPB
39% of reported systems
Trace
Below 5 PPB
50% of reported systems
Elevated
5 - 10 PPB
7% of reported systems
Exceeds 2027 Level
10 - 15 PPB
1.7% of reported systems
Above Action Level
15+ PPB
1.5% of reported systems
What the Numbers Mean
Swipe the table to see what to do at each level.
| Reported Level | Classification | Regulatory Context | What To Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 PPB | Non-Detect | Not detected in that monitoring period. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. | Test your own tap to confirm |
| Below 5 PPB | Trace | 5 PPB is the FDA limit for bottled water | Point-of-use filtration worth considering |
| 5 - 10 PPB | Elevated | Higher than roughly 90% of reported systems | Dedicated lead filtration at drinking taps recommended |
| 10 - 15 PPB | Exceeds 2027 Level | Above the 10 PPB action level effective 2027 | Treat drinking water now and test your tap |
| 15+ PPB | Above Action Level | Exceeds the current 15 PPB federal action level | Treat all drinking and cooking water; test promptly |
Where Reported Lead Runs Highest
Lead exceedances are local: they depend on lead service lines and corrosion control, not geology alone. These states and systems show the most action-level exceedances in aggregated regulatory monitoring data.
States With the Most Systems Above the Action Level
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1 Pennsylvania of 489 reported151 systems
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2 New Hampshire of 114 reported69 systems
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3 Michigan of 1,197 reported35 systems
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4 California of 2,867 reported30 systems
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5 New York of 2,116 reported24 systems
Large Systems Recently Above the Action Level
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1 Boston Water & Sewer MA · Dec 202522.5 PPB
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2 Elgin IL · Dec 202553 PPB
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3 Aurora IL · Dec 202524 PPB
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4 Illinois American, Peoria IL · Dec 202521 PPB
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5 Missoula Water MT · Dec 202322 PPB
Counts cover systems with recent reported results (2016 or later) in our aggregated regulatory monitoring database. Reporting completeness varies widely by state, and low-reporting states skew toward exceedances, so these are reported systems only, not a census. The only number that settles your home is your own: test your tap water.
Lead and Your Health
EPA and CDC agree there is no known safe level of lead in drinking water. Effects build gradually and quietly, which is why prevention and testing matter.
How to Test for Lead in Water
The lookup shows the system-level value your utility reported. Testing shows what is actually at your faucet, and where any lead is coming from.
1
Order the Kit
The First Draw & Flush Dual Lead Test ships to your door with everything needed for both samples.
$85 · both samples included
2
Collect Two Samples
Fill the first-draw bottle from water that sat overnight in your plumbing, then the flush sample after the line has run clear.
3
Certified Lab Results
An independent EPA-certified laboratory analyzes both samples to a 1 PPB detection limit, and our water specialists review the report with you.
First Draw vs. Flush: Find the Source
A single sample cannot locate the lead. Comparing the two tells you where it enters, and which fix actually solves it.
First Draw
Water that sat overnight in your fixtures and pipes.
What it measures: lead picked up from your own faucet, brass fittings, solder, and interior plumbing.
What it points to: a high first draw with a low flush means the source is in the building, fixed with point-of-use filtration or fixture replacement.
Flush Sample
Collected after the line has run clear.
What it measures: lead arriving through the service line before it ever reaches your plumbing.
What it points to: an elevated flush result points to the service line, the case for whole house treatment and a line inspection.
How to Remove Lead from Water
Lead is removed at the tap with dedicated lead media or reverse osmosis, or at the point of entry with a whole house system. These are the lead water filters we manufacture for each job.
Lead + Cyst Reduction
Drinking Water Solution
Lead Under Sink Water Filter System
- Dedicated 1/2 micron lead and cyst carbon block cartridge, about 6,000 gallons per cartridge
- 97% lead reduction at 20,000 gallons in independent laboratory testing, 99%+ when new
- Replacement cartridges from $64; renting? The no-drill countertop version starts at $130.90
From $182.90 Most households choose the Triple at $256.80
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on lead results, action levels, testing, and treatment.
No. Boiling does not remove lead. As water boils off, the lead stays behind and becomes slightly more concentrated. Use cold water for drinking and cooking, and treat lead at the tap with filtration designed for it.
Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report carries the system result, and state drinking water programs list certified labs. For your own tap, our First Draw & Flush Dual Lead Test ships to your door, and an independent certified laboratory analyzes both samples to EPA standards.
It depends on where you need protection. A dedicated lead under sink system or reverse osmosis treats the tap you drink from. A lead removal whole house filter covers every tap, which matters for pre-1986 plumbing or a lead service line.
Nothing. Dissolved lead is invisible, and you cannot taste or smell it either. Water with elevated lead can look and taste completely normal, which is why testing is the only way to know.
Yes. Lead-rated filter media and reverse osmosis membranes reduce lead at the point of use. The keys are a filter specifically engineered for lead, cartridge replacement on schedule, and a tap test to confirm performance.
Look for component test data against NSF/ANSI 53, the lead-reduction standard. Crystal Quest's lead removal cartridge media was independent laboratory tested following the ANSI standard test protocol at 97% lead reduction through 20,000 gallons, and 99%+ when new. See the independent laboratory test results.
EPA's health goal (MCLG) for lead is zero: no level of exposure is considered safe. The 15 PPB action level (10 PPB beginning 2027) is a regulatory trigger for utility corrective action, not a safety line, so treating any confirmed detection is reasonable.
Yes. Reverse osmosis membranes reduce lead along with dissolved solids, arsenic, fluoride, and nitrate that dedicated lead media does not target. An under-sink reverse osmosis system is a strong broad-spectrum choice for drinking and cooking water.
Lead rarely comes from rivers, lakes, or wells. It enters through corrosion of lead service lines, lead solder, and brass fixtures between the water main and your faucet. Homes built before 1986, when lead solder was banned, carry the highest risk. Read more on how lead gets into your water.
Sometimes. Most utilities report low or non-detect system values, but lead enters water from individual service lines and plumbing, so any home can differ. Look up your utility's reported level above, then confirm with a test at your own faucet. There is more on the causes of lead contamination in our resource library.
No. Water softeners exchange hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium; they are not designed for lead reduction. Use a dedicated lead filter or reverse osmosis at the drinking tap, and keep the softener for scale control.
The federal action level for lead is 15 PPB today, dropping to 10 PPB in 2027 under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements. When a system's 90th-percentile result exceeds it, the utility must take corrective action such as corrosion control. EPA's health goal remains zero. Our complete guide to lead in drinking water covers the rule in depth.
Plenty, without touching the plumbing. The First Draw & Flush Dual Lead Test ($85) works in any apartment: fill two bottles at your own tap and mail them to the lab, no plumbing changes needed. If lead shows up, the no-drill countertop lead filter (from $130.90) connects to the faucet and moves out when you do. And ask your landlord to check the service line material; EPA now requires water systems to keep service line inventories, so the answer is usually a quick lookup.
Know Your Tap, Not Just Your Utility
You've seen what your utility reported. The next step is knowing your own tap: test it, then treat it where you drink. We'll help you do both.
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