If you are concerned about lead in your water, contact your local health authorities to find out how you can have your water tested by a certified laboratory. If tests reveal that the lead content of your water is above 15 parts per billion, you should reduce your exposure to it. Since warm water absorbs more lead than cold water, when you cook, always start with cold water. Because water standing in pipes tends to absorb lead, clear the pipes before drinking by letting your tap run until the water is cold. Catch the running water and use it to water your plants.
Bottled water is safer than tap water.
The safety of bottled water and tap water initially depends on the source of the water. Monitoring and source protection, treatment and testing ultimately determine the quality of the finished product. In the United States, the 1996 Reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act will require that bottled water be monitored and tested in the same rigorous manner that tap water has been subject to for years. Using a home water treatment device will make tap water safer or healthier to drink. Additionally, all home treatment devices, regardless of the technologies they use, require regular maintenance is not performed properly.