Use cold water and a filter made for lead, because boiling does not remove it

Lead cannot be seen, tasted or smelled in drinking water, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. A clear glass that tastes fine tells you nothing about it. Boiling is the surest way to kill germs, the CDC says, but it does not help here: the CDC says boiling will not reduce the amount of lead in your water.

If lead is the worry, use only cold tap water for drinking and cooking, and use a filter certified to remove lead; boiling does not remove lead.

This page is not for you if you have been told not to drink your water or to boil it, if your water comes from a private well, or if you think you or your child has already been exposed to lead. “Who this page is not for” has what to do in those cases.

What the CDC and the EPA say to do

The CDC and the EPA give the steps below for people worried about lead in water.

• Cold water only. The CDC says to drink or cook only with water that comes out of the tap cold, because water that comes out warm or hot can have higher levels of lead. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says to use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula.
• Run the tap first. The EPA says that before drinking, you flush the home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or doing a load of dishes. How long depends on whether your home has a lead service line, which is the pipe that connects your home to the water main. Your water utility can recommend a time.
• Use a filter certified for lead, if you use a filter. The CDC says to run your drinking and cooking water through a “point-of-use” filter certified by an independent testing organization, and that the certification should show NSF/ANSI standard 53 for lead removal and NSF/ANSI standard 42 for particulate removal. This page names no brand, because the standard is what matters. A filter sold for taste may not have it. The CDC also says filters that remove germs often do not remove chemicals, and the reverse is also true. So a filter for lead does not stand in for a boil-water notice: the CDC says most home water filters, like pitcher or fridge filters, are not designed to remove germs.
• Keep the filter working. The EPA says an expired cartridge can be less effective at removing lead, and not to run hot water through the filter. The CDC says people with weakened immune systems should avoid changing water filters themselves, because the filter can hold germs or chemicals.
• Clean the faucet screen. The EPA says sediment, debris and lead particles can collect in the screen at the end of the faucet, called the aerator.
• Watch for pipe work. The EPA says to be aware of any construction or maintenance work that could disturb your lead service line.

The cold-water and run-the-tap steps cost nothing except a little water, so they are the place to start while you find out more.

Find out whether lead is your problem

The CDC says your local water authority is always your first source for testing and identifying lead in your tap water, and that many public water systems will test drinking water for residents on request.

Two questions to put to your water utility: does a lead service line supply my home, and will you test my water? The CDC and the EPA both say to ask. If the utility has no answer, the EPA says a licensed plumber may be able to help with the pipe. The CDC says the best way to know your risk is to find the possible sources of lead in the service line and the plumbing in your home. It lists brass or chrome-plated brass faucets, galvanized iron pipes and plumbing soldered with lead, and says fixtures and pipe fittings made before 1986 may also contain lead.

In the US, the EPA says community water systems must deliver a yearly water quality report to customers by July 1. The EPA says the report gives information about local drinking water quality, and you can ask your utility for a copy. The EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline is 1-800-426-4791.

Some people point out that water safety differs from place to place, and say not to assume your area matches someone else’s. This page cannot tell you that your own tap water is safe. Your supplier’s report, a test and your pipes are how you find out.

Is a filter worth it?

Many people say a filter costs less over time than buying bottled water. The CDC says people can virtually eliminate their exposure to lead in water by using only bottled water certified by an independent testing organization, and that this may not be the most cost-effective option for long-term use. This page gives no prices, because they change and differ by filter type. Compare the cost of the cartridge with what you spend on bottled water.

One person says a cheap filter rated for lead is a workable alternative to buying water, as long as you read the specifications to check that it really is rated for lead. Another person says some filters improve taste and smell but do not make unsafe water safe. The CDC says to check the product’s label for the specific substances the filter can remove.

Some people say a filter is only for taste if your water report is clean; others filter anyway. The CDC says that if your tap water does not contain harmful germs or chemicals you may not need a filter, and that some filters also remove fluoride, which prevents cavities.

Babies and children

The CDC says infants who drink formula made with lead-contaminated tap water may be at higher risk, because they drink a large volume of water for their body size. The CDC says no safe blood lead level has been identified for young children. The EPA says to use only cold water for making baby formula. In the US, follow the formula maker’s instructions and your child’s doctor’s advice for how to prepare it.

In the UK, the NHS says that to make up powdered formula you boil the water and leave it to cool for no more than 30 minutes, so that it stays at 70°C or more. The NHS gives that step for germs, and this page does not suggest skipping it. Boiling does not remove lead. If you are worried about lead in the water you use for formula, ask your child’s doctor or your health visitor, who can give advice for your case.

The CDC says most children and adults who are exposed to lead have no symptoms. A blood lead test is the best way to tell, and a health care provider can decide whether one is needed. The CDC says to contact your child’s healthcare provider if you think you or your child has been exposed to lead in water. If the cost of a visit is a worry, a health center that charges by income may help: see the card below.

If you are in the UK

The Drinking Water Inspectorate checks water supplies in England and Wales. In Scotland or Northern Ireland, ask your own water supplier what applies.

GOV.UK says that if your home was built before 1970 it may have lead pipes. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) says homes built after 1970 are unlikely to have lead pipes, and that unpainted lead looks dull grey and often has a swollen joint.

• Run the tap. GOV.UK says to run the main tap, generally the kitchen tap, to clear water that has been standing in the pipes, and that generally 2 to 3 minutes is enough. It says a long service pipe may need longer. The DWI says to flush the tap for at least 10 minutes after any work on lead pipes, because the work can raise lead levels for a while.
• Cold water. Scottish Water says to use water from the kitchen cold tap for drinking and cooking, because hot water dissolves more lead than cold, and never to cook or mix instant formula with water from the hot tap. It also says boiling will not remove lead from water, and that replacing lead pipes is the only sure way to eliminate lead completely. Its helpline is 0800 0778 778.
• Testing. The DWI says you can ask your water company to test the water at your kitchen tap, and that if it finds lead it should give you written advice.
• Pipes. The DWI says the water company owns the pipe from the main to the stop valve outside your property. The owner is responsible for the pipe from the stop valve into the home and for plumbing up to the kitchen tap. The DWI says that if you plan to replace a lead pipe, tell your water company, because it is legally required to replace its own part of the pipe if that is lead and at risk of adding lead to the water. If the water company does not deal with it, the Consumer Council for Water (England and Wales) or Citizens Advice can advise. The DWI suggests a qualified plumber, such as one accredited through WaterSafe.
• Filters. The DWI says to ask your water company for its water quality report before you buy a filter. It says not to buy from a door-to-door seller who offers to test your water. It says to change cartridges as the maker says, because an old one can grow bacteria and let what it removed back into the water. It names no UK standard for a lead filter, so ask your water company what it advises.
• Health. GOV.UK says pregnant women, infants and young children are particularly sensitive to lead, and to see your GP or call NHS 111 about health concerns.

If your water company does not deal with your problem, the Consumer Council for Water helps with complaints against a water company in England and Wales, and the Citizens Advice consumer service can advise on consumer problems. Both are in the cards below. In Scotland, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman handles complaints about Scottish Water; in Northern Ireland, the Consumer Council can help.

Who this page is not for

If you have been told not to drink your water, follow the notice. The CDC says to listen to local authorities about drinking boiled or bottled water, and says boiling does not remove chemicals. A boil-water notice is about germs, and boiling is how you follow it. A notice about lead is different, and boiling cannot fix it.

Some people pointed out that boiling does not remove lead and can concentrate it as the water evaporates; the Michigan state environment agency says the same. One person says the health department or the city may have free water delivery or filters, so call and ask. Your supplier and your health department can tell you what your notice means for brushing teeth or cooking.

If your water comes from a private well, the EPA says the owner is responsible for its safety. The CDC says to test well water at least once a year, using a state-certified laboratory, and to ask your health department what to test for, including lead; its well-testing page lists when to test again. In the UK, GOV.UK says the owner of a private supply should test it.

If you think you or a child may already have been exposed, the step is a doctor, not a filter. A filter lowers exposure from now on. It does not tell you what has already happened.

If you live outside the US and the UK, this page does not cover your country’s water rules.