What is the safe level of lead in drinking water?

The EPA's action level is 15 parts per billion. But the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) for lead is zero, meaning the agency recognizes no level of lead in drinking water is without risk. The CDC's position is that there is no confirmed safe blood lead level for children. A result below 15 ppb is below the regulatory action level, it doesn't mean the water is risk-free, especially for infants and young children.

How do I collect a first-draw water sample for lead testing?

Don't run any water in your home for at least 6 hours before sampling, overnight is ideal. Go to your kitchen cold water tap. Without running the tap first, fill the sterile sample bottle with the very first water that comes out. Seal it, label it, and refrigerate until you ship. The first water out captures what has been sitting in your pipes and fixtures, where lead levels are highest.

Where do I send my water sample for lead testing?

Use a state-certified lab. Many certified labs offer mail-in test kits that include a sterile bottle and prepaid return shipping. National Environmental Service Co. (NESC), Tap Score by SimpleLab, and state health department programs are common options. Check your state EPA website for a list of certified labs in your state.

Does my utility test for lead at my tap?

No. Utility lead testing under the Lead and Copper Rule samples a limited set of homes in the distribution system, typically high-risk homes with lead service lines or pre-1940 plumbing. These results appear in your annual Consumer Confidence Report. They reflect distribution-level averages, not your individual tap. Only a first-draw test at your actual tap tells you your specific lead level.

How long does it take to get lead water test results?

Certified lab results typically arrive in 1 to 5 business days after the lab receives your sample. Some labs offer rush processing for an additional fee. Home test kits give results in minutes, but they only detect lead at or above the 15 ppb action level, they miss lower concentrations that still matter for infants and young children.

How to Test Your Tap Water for Lead

Medical disclaimer: Lead exposure is a serious health concern, especially for children under six and pregnant people. This page provides general information, not medical advice. Contact your pediatrician or healthcare provider about lead exposure concerns.

Your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report doesn’t tell you what’s at your tap. It tells you what the utility found in its distribution system samples, a specific set of homes tested under the Lead and Copper Rule, not yours.

Lead doesn’t come from the source water. It comes from pipes and fixtures between the treatment plant and your faucet. A clean CCR result can coexist with elevated lead at an individual tap. The only way to know your actual level is to test the water coming out of your tap.

Home Test Kits vs. Certified Lab Tests

These two options answer different questions.

Home test kits cost $10 to $30 and give results in minutes. Most detect lead at 15 ppb, the EPA action level. If your water has lead at 5 ppb, a typical home kit won’t flag it. They’re fine for a quick pass to check for obvious contamination. They’re not reliable enough for decisions about infant formula or confirming a lead service line is safe.

Certified lab tests cost $15 to $40 for a single first-draw sample. They detect lead at concentrations of 1 ppb or lower, often down to 0.5 ppb. Results come back in 1 to 5 business days. This is the right tool when you actually need to know the number, before buying a filter, after a plumbing change, or when young children are in the household.

If you’re going to test, get the lab test. The price difference is small. The information difference is large.

The First-Draw Protocol

The collection method determines the result. A “first-draw” sample captures water that has been sitting in your pipes and fixtures for at least 6 hours. This is when lead levels are highest, because standing water has had time to absorb lead from pipes, solder joints, and fixture materials.

Here’s the exact procedure:

Don’t run any water in your home for at least 6 hours before sampling. Overnight is the standard.
Use your kitchen cold water tap, the one you use for drinking and cooking.
Don’t flush the tap before collecting. The first water out is what you want.
Fill the sterile sample bottle from the lab with the very first water that comes out. Collect exactly the volume the lab specifies (usually 250 mL to 1 liter).
Seal and label the bottle immediately.
Refrigerate it and ship to the lab within the time window specified (usually 24 to 48 hours).

Don’t remove the faucet aerator before collecting unless the lab specifically instructs it. Some protocols ask you to remove it so any particulate lead trapped in the screen is included in the sample. Follow your lab’s instructions exactly.

Free and Subsidized Testing Programs

Before paying for a private lab test, check these options.

Some state health departments offer free lead testing for households with young children. Contact your state health department directly and ask. Many utilities will also test premise plumbing upon request, especially for customers who call after receiving a lead service line notification.

The EPA and CDC both ran expanded free testing programs in recent years. Check your local health department’s website for current availability.

If free testing is available to you, use it. If not, a $15 to $40 certified lab test is worth it.

How to Read Your Results

Lead is measured in parts per billion (ppb).

0 ppb detected: Your plumbing isn’t contributing detectable lead at this tap. That’s a good result. Retest if you move or if any plumbing is changed, new fixtures can introduce different materials.

1 to 14 ppb: Below the EPA’s 15 ppb action level, but above zero. The EPA’s MCLG for lead is zero. There is no known safe level of lead for children. At this range, consider an NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter on your kitchen tap, particularly if children or infants are in the household.

15 ppb or higher: Above the EPA action level. Switch to NSF/ANSI 53-certified filtered water or bottled water immediately for drinking and cooking. Contact your utility to report the result and ask about your service line status. Some utilities will investigate and offer assistance.

What Filter to Use if You Get a Positive Result

Two filter types are certified to reduce lead at point of use.

Reverse osmosis systems certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 remove 97 to 99% of lead. They’re the most thorough option. Under-sink units are permanent installations, but countertop RO units require no drilling.

Solid carbon block filters and pitcher filters certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53, specifically for lead, also reduce lead meaningfully at the tap. The NSF 53 certification must explicitly list lead reduction, NSF 42 covers taste and odor only and doesn’t address lead.

For specific filter options, see Best Mail-In Water Tests and Best Pitcher Water Filters.

When to Retest

Test your water for lead if any of these apply:

You’ve never tested and your home was built before 1986.
You’ve confirmed or suspect a lead service line.
New fixtures or plumbing were recently installed.
You’re pregnant or have a child under six in the household.
Your utility notified you of a lead service line serving your property.

A one-time clean result is reassuring, but it’s not permanent. Plumbing conditions change. If anything changes in your home’s plumbing, new fixtures, repairs, the service line being disturbed during nearby street work, run another first-draw test.

The direct recommendation: if you live in a home built before 1986 and have never tested for lead, a certified lab first-draw test is worth doing this month. It costs under $40 and answers the question with actual data. The lead contaminant page and lead service lines page cover what to do once you have results.

Sources:

EPA Basic Information About Lead in Drinking Water
EPA action level: 15 ppb. MCLG: 0 ppb.

Medical disclaimer: WaterAnswer.com provides general information only. Lead health concerns, especially for children and pregnant people, warrant consultation with a pediatrician or healthcare provider.