Lead in Drinking Water: Causes, Health Risks & How to Remove It

What Is Lead?

Lead is a naturally occurring metal that was historically used in plumbing materials due to its durability and ease of use. While lead is no longer used in new plumbing systems, it can still be present in older homes and buildings.

How Lead Can Enter Drinking Water

Lead typically enters drinking water through contact with plumbing materials rather than from the water source itself.

Common pathways include:

• Lead service lines connecting homes to water mains
• Interior lead pipes in older buildings
• Lead-based solder used to join copper pipes
• Brass fixtures and valves manufactured before modern lead standards

Lead is typically invisible, odorless, and tasteless in water, making it difficult to detect without testing. Because of this, many homeowners are unaware of the risk until proper analysis is performed.

Why Older Homes Are at Higher Risk

Homes built before the mid-1980s are more likely to contain plumbing materials that include lead. Even after lead use was reduced, existing service lines and interior components often remained in place for decades.

Disturbances such as plumbing work, changes in water chemistry, or aging infrastructure can increase the likelihood of lead entering tap water.

Lead in drinking water is especially a concern in older homes throughout Virginia, including Hampton Roads and coastal areas of North Carolina where aging plumbing systems remain in use.

How Lead Affects the Home

Water Quality & Use

Lead is typically invisible, odorless, and tasteless in water, making it difficult to detect without testing.

Plumbing Systems

Lead-containing materials can slowly release lead into water as pipes and fixtures age or corrode.

Health Perspective

Public health agencies recognize that lead exposure is a concern, particularly for children and pregnant individuals. There is no known safe level of lead exposure.

Because lead is difficult to detect by sight or taste, testing is the primary way to determine its presence.

How to Remove Lead from Drinking Water

The right treatment depends on the source and concentration of lead in your water.

Common solutions include:

• Reverse osmosis systems for drinking water
• Specialized filtration systems certified for lead removal

Because lead contamination varies from one home to another, choosing the correct system requires accurate testing and analysis.

Do You Need a Water Test?

Lead cannot be detected by sight, smell, or taste.

A professional water test can determine:

• Whether lead is present
• The concentration level
• Potential sources within your plumbing system

Without testing, it is difficult to confirm whether your water is safe.

Not All Lead Problems Are the Same

Lead contamination varies depending on plumbing materials, water chemistry, and the age of your home. The right treatment approach depends entirely on your specific situation.

Choosing the wrong solution may fail to fully address the issue or remove the source of contamination.

Without proper testing, lead exposure can continue unnoticed over time.

Get Clear Answers About Your Water

The most effective way to address lead in drinking water is to start with accurate testing. Every home is different, and the right solution depends on what’s actually present.

We provide professional water testing services throughout Virginia & North Carolina, helping homeowners identify exactly what’s in their water and determine the safest and most effective treatment approach.

Schedule a professional water test and get a clear, customized plan for your home.

FAQ

Is lead still a concern if my water comes from a city system?
Yes. Even when source water meets regulatory standards, lead can enter water through service lines or interior plumbing materials within a home.

Can newer homes have lead in the water?
Newer homes are less likely to have lead-related plumbing components, but older fixtures or neighborhood service lines may still contribute.

How do I know if my home has lead plumbing?
Reviewing home construction dates, plumbing materials, and utility records can help identify potential lead sources. Testing provides confirmation.

Related Water Problems

Water issues often occur together or share similar symptoms. You may also be interested in:

• Low pH – acidic water that can increase metal leaching
• PFAS – cancer causing contaminants that may be present in drinking water
• Click to See the Entire List of Common Water Problems