Lead in Your Drinking Water

Lead is a heavy metal that can be hazardous if breathed or swallowed. Its use in gasoline, paints, and plumbing compounds has been sharply restricted or eliminated by federal laws and regulations.

Lead is rarely found in source water but can enter tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. In homes without lead service lines, the most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and plumbing with lead solder.

Lead is harmful even in small doses, as the EPA attests. The EPA has set the maximum contaminant level goal for lead in drinking water at zero. This means that there is no amount of lead, no matter how small, that’s safe for human consumption.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to find out whether there is lead present in your drinking water. First, check local quality reports. You can find your local Consumer Confidence Report here.

Second, have your water tested. Pentair’s Water Test Kit tests for the presence of common contaminants, including lead. Last, if you determine that you need a water filter to address lead, consider one of these options: