How Lead Gets into Drinking Water

Lead can get into drinking water through corrosion of plumbing materials. This includes service line pipes, private plumbing pipes, solder, fixtures, faucets, and fittings. Plumbing made with lead can chemically react with water over time which causes lead to dissolve into the drinking water. Houses built after 1989 are no longer allowed to use plumbing made with lead materials.

A service line is the pipe connecting the water main to the interior plumbing in a building. The service line may be wholly owned by the water system or property owner, or ownership may be split between the water system and the property owner.

There are several factors that influence how lead enters drinking water. These factors include:

  • The temperature of the water
  • How long water stays in pipes
  • The amount of wear in the pipes
  • The amount of lead water comes into contact with
  • The chemistry of the water and the types and amounts of minerals in the water

Plumbing is now required to hold a “lead free” certification before being put into commerce. Any new pipe or plumbing fixture being installed must be “lead free”. 

cartooned house showing various ways lead can get into drinking water
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