WHAT IS LEAD?

Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful 

if inhaled or swallowed.

Lead can be found in air, soil, dust, 

food, and water.

HOW CAN I BE EXPOSED TO 

LEAD?

The greatest exposure to lead is 

swallowing or breathing in lead paint 

chips and dust.

Lead also can be found in some 

household plumbing materials and water 

service lines.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Children ages 6 and under are at 

the greatest risk. Pregnant women and 

nursing mothers should avoid exposure 

to lead to protect their children.

Exposure to lead can result in delays 

in physical and mental development.

Your child is also at risk if:

your home or a home that your child 

spends a lot of time in was built 

before lead paint was banned in 

1978.

renovation work is being done in such 

a home.

the adults in the home work 

with lead.

HOTLINES & INFORMATION

EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline:

800-426-4791

National Lead Information Center:

800-424-LEAD

www.epa.gov/lead

NSF International:

 www.nsf.org

Lead in Drinking Water Web Site:

www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

IS THERE 

LEAD

IN MY 

DRINKING 

WATER?

You can reduce the risk 

of lead exposure 

from drinking water 

in your home.

Tips For 

Protecting 

Your Family‛s 

Health

Additional Information:

Read the annual report you 

get from your water utility 

to find out about how they 

are working to reduce levels 

of lead in drinking water and 

other information about your 

drinking water. Call them if 

you have any questions.

Contact your local public 

health department or talk to 

your doctor about reducing 

your family‛s exposure to lead. 

Offi ce of Water (4606 M)

EPA 816-F-05-001

February 2005

Printed on Recycled Paper
HOW DOES LEAD GET INTO 

WATER?

Lead enters the water (“leaches”) through 

contact with the plumbing.

 Lead leaches into water through:

Corrosion* of

- Pipes

- Solder

- Fixtures and Faucets (brass)

- Fittings

*Corrosion is a dissolving or wearing away of 

metal caused by a chemical reaction between 

water and your plumbing.

The amount of lead in your water also 

depends on the types and amounts of 

minerals in the water, how long the water 

stays in the pipes, the amount of wear 

in the pipes, the water‛s acidity and its 

temperature.

HEALTH TIP

To help block the 

storage of lead in your 

child‛s body, serve 

your family meals 

that are low in fat 

and high in calcium 

and iron, including dairy 

products and green 

vegetables.

What should I do if 

I suspect that my water 

contains high lead levels?

If you want to know if your home‛s 

drinking water contains unsafe levels of 

lead, have your water tested. 

Testing is the only way to confirm if 

lead is present or absent.

Most water systems test for lead as 

a regular part of water monitoring. These 

tests give a system-wide picture and do 

not reflect conditions at a specific drinking 

water outlet.

For more information on testing your 

water, call EPA‛s Safe Drinking Water 

Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Should I test my children for 

exposure to lead?

Children at risk of exposure to lead 

should be tested.

Your doctor or local health center can 

perform a simple blood test to determine 

your child‛s blood-lead level.

If your child has a blood lead level at 

or above 10ug/dl, should take preventive 

measures.

QUICK TIPS TO REDUCE 

YOUR FAMILY‛S 

EXPOSURE TO LEAD

 Boiling your water 

will not get rid 

of lead.

Use cold water for drinking or 

cooking. Never cook or mix infant 

formula using hot water from the tap.

Make it a practice to run the water 

at each tap before use. 

Do not consume water that has sat 

in your home‛s plumbing for more than six 

hours. First, make sure to run the water 

until you feel the temperature change 

before cooking, drinking, or brushing your 

teeth, unless otherwise instructed by 

your utility.

Some faucet and pitcher filters can 

remove lead from drinking water. If 

you use a filter, be sure you get one that 

is certified to remove lead by the NSF 

International.