If your water test or utility notice shows lead, do not try to solve it by boiling the water. Boiling does not remove lead. The next steps are to contact the right local authority, reduce exposure at the drinking-water tap, use certified filtration if needed, and ask about lead service lines or plumbing sources.
Quick answer
- Contact your water utility or local health department.
- Use only cold tap water for drinking, cooking, and baby formula.
- Do not boil water to remove lead.
- Use a filter certified for lead reduction if recommended.
- Clean faucet aerators.
- Ask whether your home has a lead service line.
- Contact a healthcare provider if you think a child or household member was exposed.
Step 1: Confirm what the result means
A lead result should be read with context:
- Was it first-draw or flushed?
- Which tap was sampled?
- Was it raw tap water or filtered water?
- Was there recent plumbing or service-line work?
- Is there a public notice or utility sampling program?
Step 2: Reduce exposure now
EPA recommends several actions when people are concerned about lead in drinking water:
- Use a certified lead-reducing filter properly.
- Clean the faucet aerator.
- Use cold water for drinking, cooking, and baby formula.
- Run water before drinking when water has been sitting in pipes.
- Learn whether you have a lead service line.
- Have water tested.
Step 2A: Decide whether temporary water is needed
Some households may need temporary drinking water while testing, filter setup, or service-line questions are being handled. This is especially relevant for infant formula, young children, pregnancy, or a public notice with specific instructions.
Use your local health department or water provider as the decision point. The right temporary plan can depend on the test result, household risk, filter availability, and whether the issue is local plumbing or a broader utility notice.
Step 3: Use the right filter
A lead filter should be certified for lead reduction. CDC says people can reduce exposure by using a point-of-use filter certified by an independent testing organization, and the certification should indicate NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead removal and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulate removal.
EPA's filter tool focuses on point-of-use and pitcher filters evaluated for lead reduction to 5 parts per billion or less and particulate Class I reduction.
Read Do Water Filters Remove Lead?.
Step 4: Do not use hot water for drinking
CDC says warm or hot tap water can have higher levels of lead, and boiling the water will not reduce the amount of lead. Use cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula.
If you need hot water, start with cold water and heat it separately.
Step 4A: Clean aerators carefully
EPA recommends regularly cleaning the faucet aerator, which is the screen at the faucet tip. Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect there.
If your utility has issued instructions after service-line replacement or nearby construction, follow those instructions first. Otherwise, clean aerators as part of routine maintenance and after plumbing disturbance.
Step 5: Check the source
Short-term steps can reduce exposure, but you still need to identify the source.
Ask about:
- Lead service lines
- Interior plumbing
- Solder
- Fixtures
- Aerator debris
- Recent water main or service-line work
Step 5A: Plan follow-up testing
After installing a filter, replacing plumbing, or completing service-line work, ask whether follow-up testing is recommended. The result should match the question:
- untreated tap water to understand the source
- filtered water to verify a treatment setup
- first-draw water to evaluate sitting water
- flushed water to compare after water has moved through the line
Step 6: Think about health follow-up
CDC says most children and adults exposed to lead have no symptoms, and a healthcare provider can decide whether a blood lead test is needed. If you think a child, pregnant person, or household member may have been exposed, contact a healthcare provider or local health department.
