What to Do If You Have Lead in Your Water Supply

If you find out there’s lead in your water supply, don’t panic — but do take action quickly to protect your health. Lead is harmful, especially for babies, children, and pregnant women, even in small amounts. In the U.S., there is no safe level of lead exposure, according to public health guidance.

Here’s what to do:

1. Don’t drink or cook with unfiltered tap water

• Do not use tap water for drinking, cooking, making baby formula, or brushing teeth if it may contain lead.
• Boiling water does not remove lead. In fact, boiling can increase lead concentration as water evaporates.
• Use only properly filtered or verified lead-free water for consumption.

2. Use safe, filtered water instead

• Use bottled water or water from a confirmed lead-free source (such as a tested neighbour’s supply or a public filling station).
• A practical long-term solution is using a certified water filtration system designed to reduce lead at the point of use, allowing you to safely drink and cook directly from your own tap.
• Look for filters certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or NSF/ANSI Standard 58, which are recognized in the U.S. for lead reduction.
• High-quality under-sink filtration systems, such as those used with AqualogicNT filtered water, are designed to reduce lead while maintaining good flow and taste.

3. Flush your pipes before using tap water

• If you must use tap water for washing hands, dishes, or bathing, run the cold water for several minutes before use. This helps clear water that has been sitting in plumbing materials where lead can leach.
• Always use cold water for cooking or filtering, as hot water dissolves lead more easily.

4. Get your water tested

• Contact your local water utility or health department for guidance on testing.
• Even after installing a filtration system, periodic testing can help confirm that your water remains within safe limits.

5. Fix the source of the problem

• If your home contains lead service lines, lead solder, or older fixtures, they should be replaced where possible.
• In the U.S., water utilities are typically responsible for the service line up to the property boundary, while homeowners may be responsible for internal plumbing.
• While long-term infrastructure repairs are being planned, using a certified lead-reducing filter provides immediate protection.

6. Follow official guidance

• Follow updates from your water utility, local health department, or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Continue using filtered water until officials confirm that lead levels are consistently below action thresholds.

Understanding the Role of Filtration

Addressing lead in drinking water often requires long-term infrastructure changes, such as replacing service lines or internal plumbing. While those steps are important, they can take time to plan and complete. In the meantime, point-of-use water filtration plays an important role in reducing everyday exposure.

Certified filtration systems designed for lead reduction can help lower the amount of lead in drinking and cooking water when used and maintained properly. For many households, systems like AqualogicNT filtered water provide an added layer of protection by reducing lead at the tap, where water is actually consumed.

Using filtered water for drinking, cooking, and preparing infant formula—alongside regular testing and guidance from local authorities—can help families make informed, practical choices to protect their health while longer-term solutions are underway.