Also, lead piping was often used for the service connections that join residences to public water supplies. Plumbing installed before 1930 is most likely to contain lead. Copper pipes have replaced lead pipes in most residential plumbing. However, the use of lead solder with copper pipes is widespread. Experts regard this lead solder as the major cause of lead contamination of household water in U.S. homes today.
Scientific data indicate that the newer the home, the greater the risk of lead contamination.
Lead levels decrease as a building ages. This coating insulates the water from the solder. More likely than not, water in buildings less than five years old has high levels of lead contamination. You should have your water tested for lead. Since you cannot see, taste, or smell lead dissolved in water, testing is the only sure way of telling whether or not there are harmful quantities of lead in your drinking water.