Lead in Drinking Water

Background

Lead is a naturally occurring element that has been used in many products throughout history, from the Roman aqueducts to 20^th Century plumbing, paint, and pottery. It is now known that lead in drinking water is a serious public health concern and even very low levels can harm the brain, kidneys, and other organs – especially in infants and young children.  Research has shown it can cause developmental delays in children, neurological problems, high blood pressure and kidney issues in adults and pregnancy risks including miscarriage, premature birth and fetal development issues. Lead is a poisonous metal that can cause long-term health and behavioral problems. The main way people come in contact with lead in Minnesota is through lead-based paint in homes built before 1978.  Other sources of lead include water in lead service lines (the pipes connecting homes to city water mains) and lead in household plumbing.

How Lead gets into Drinking Water

Lead does not usually come from the drinking water source itself.  Most contamination happens when water passes through a:

• Lead service line (water service pipe that connect homes to the watermain)
• Lead solder used in older plumbing (homes that were built prior to 1986)
• Brass fixtures that contain small amounts of lead

Water that has a low mineral content or a higher pH is more likely to corrode pipes and leach lead into the water.

How to protect yourself and your family

Learn more about lead levels in Minnesota. Visit Common Sources of Lead to learn how to reduce your contact with lead from sources other than your drinking water.

• Childhood Lead Exposure
• Lead Poisoning Prevention
• Drinking Water Protection Annual Reports

If your drinking water has tested positive for lead, follow the tips below for steps to protect yourself and reduce your risk. 

• Let the water run for at least 1 minute before using it for drinking or cooking if the water has not been turned on in over six hours. If you have a lead service line connecting your home to city water, you may need to let the water run 3 - 5 minutes.
• Use cold water for drinking, making food, and mixing baby formula. Hot water releases more lead from pipes than cold water.
• Test your water. In most cases, letting the water run and using cold water for drinking and cooking should keep lead levels low in your drinking water. If you are still concerned about lead, arrange with a laboratory to test your tap water. Testing your water is important if young children or pregnant women drink your tap water. All testing should be done through an accredited laboratory.  
• Get the lead out. Find out if you have a lead service line connecting your home to city water by contacting your system's water utility. If you do have a lead service line, make plans to get it replaced by coordinating with your water utility. If your home has plumbing fixtures made before 1986, you may want to consider replacing them with newer, lead-free fixtures if testing shows lead is present and is not reduced by letting the water run.
• Treat your water. If you cannot find the source of lead and letting the water run does not reduce lead levels, you may need to consider a water treatment option such as a certified filter for lead removal. See Home Water Treatment Fact Sheet for more information.
• Contact your county or municipal water utility and inquire if they have any programs to make testing your water simple.  Minnesota Department of Health Accredited Laboratory to purchase a sample container and instructions on how to submit a sample. 

Municipal Water Systems

All community water systems (serving where you live) follow the MDH (Minnesota Department of Health) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for testing for lead and copper. They also follow MDH & EPA standards to ensure water does not easily dissolve lead and copper while moving through pipes. You can find the levels of lead and copper your community water system detected by looking at your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), also known as an annual drinking water quality report. You can call your community water system to get a copy of the report, or you may be able to find it online at  Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). 

Sourced information on this page provided by the Minnesota Department of Health.