Metals
Lead in U.S. tap water
393 public water systems across 44 U.S. states report Lead in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. 16 sit at or above the federal limit.
What it is
A toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures.
Why it's regulated
There is no safe level of lead; it harms brain development in children and raises blood pressure in adults. The EPA sets an action level, not a health goal above zero.
At or above the federal limit (16)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa, CA 2024 annual report | 0–11.6 ug/L | 58.0× the limit |
| Atlanta, GA 2024 annual report | 90 ug/L | 6.0× the limit |
| City of Hemet, CA 2024 annual report | 90 ug/L | 6.0× the limit |
| City of Menifee, CA 2024 annual report | 90 ug/L | 6.0× the limit |
| City of Murrieta, CA 2024 annual report | 90 ug/L | 6.0× the limit |
| City of Perris, CA 2024 annual report | 90 ug/L | 6.0× the limit |
| City of San Jacinto, CA 2024 annual report | 90 ug/L | 6.0× the limit |
| City of Temecula, CA 2024 annual report | 90 ug/L | 6.0× the limit |
| East Valley Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 90 ug/L | 6.0× the limit |
| Mills Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 90 ug/L | 6.0× the limit |
| Montgomery, AL 2024 annual report | 90 | 6.0× the limit |
| Moreno Valley, CA 2024 annual report | 90 ug/L | 6.0× the limit |
| Riverside, CA 2024 annual report | 90 | 6.0× the limit |
| Skinner Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 90 ug/L | 6.0× the limit |
| Lubbock, TX 2024 annual report | 41 ug/L | 2.7× the limit |
| Cheltenham Youth Facility, MD 2024 annual report | 0–19 ug/L | 1.3× the limit |
Approaching the limit (2)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge, MA 2024 annual report | 0–14 ug/L | 0.9× the limit |
| Rialto, CA 2024 annual report | 0–12 ug/L | 0.8× the limit |
Within the federal limit (247)
| Water system | Measured |
|---|---|
| Yonkers, NY 2024 annual report | 1–11.3 ug/L |
| Olathe, KS 2024 annual report | 11 ug/L |
| Chesapeake, VA 2023 annual report | 0–10 ug/L |
| Calverton School, MD 2024 annual report | 0.006 mg/L |
| Grand Rapids, MI 2025 annual report | 7 ug/L |
| Gramercy, MD 2024 annual report | 8 ug/L |
| Kansas City, KS 2024 annual report | 0.0075 mg/L |
| Daly City, CA 2024 annual report | 7.2 ug/L |
| Allentown, PA 2024 annual report | 7 ug/L |
| Hartford, CT 2024 annual report | 7 ug/L |
| Boston, MA 2024 annual report | 6.9 ug/L |
| Malden, MA 2024 annual report | 6.9 ug/L |
| Marlborough, MA 2024 annual report | 6.9 ug/L |
| Avondale, AZ 2024 annual report | 0–6.6 ug/L |
| Overland Park, KS 2023 annual report | 6.5 |
| Broad Creek, MD 2024 annual report | 6 ug/L |
| Columbia, SC 2024 annual report | 6 |
| Crofton Odenton, MD 2024 annual report | 6 ug/L |
| Oxnard, CA 2024 annual report | 5.5 ug/L |
| Thousand Oaks, CA 2024 annual report | 0–5.4 ug/L |
| Brown Deer, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Butler, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Franklin, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Greendale, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Greenfield, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Hales Corners, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Menomonee Falls, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Mequon, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Milwaukee, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| New Berlin, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Shorewood, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| St. Francis, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Thiensville, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Waukesha, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Wauwatosa, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| West Allis, WI 2024 annual report | 5.3 ug/L |
| Renton, WA 2024 annual report | 0–5.1 ug/L |
| Mesa, AZ 2024 annual report | 5.01 ug/L |
| San Francisco SFPUC, CA 2023 annual report | 4.9 ug/L |
| Autumn Lake Healthcare, MD 2024 annual report | 0.0048 mg/L |
| Eugene, OR 2024 annual report | 4.5 ug/L |
| Tempe, AZ 2024 annual report | 4.5 ug/L |
| Portland, OR 2024 annual report | 4.4 ug/L |
| City of Cambridge, MD 2024 annual report | 4.1 ug/L |
| New Bedford, MA 2024 annual report | 4.1 ug/L |
| Oklahoma City, OK 2024 annual report | 4.1 ug/L |
| Brockton, MA 2024 annual report | 4 ug/L |
| Virginia Beach, VA 2024 annual report | 0–4 ug/L |
| Centennial, CO 2023 annual report | 3.9 ug/L |
| Denver, CO 2023 annual report | 3.9 ug/L |
Showing 50 of 247. The full list is in the JSON API.
Frequently asked
+What is Lead?
A toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. There is no safe level of lead; it harms brain development in children and raises blood pressure in adults. The EPA sets an action level, not a health goal above zero.
+What is the federal limit for Lead in drinking water?
The federal Action level for Lead is 15 ug/L. The EPA enforces this against the regulated reporting statistic (typically a running annual average or 90th percentile), not a single-sample spike.
+How many U.S. water systems have Lead over the federal limit?
16 of the 393 public water systems on The Water Map report Lead at or above its federal limit, spanning 44 U.S. states. The full list is on this page.
+How can I check if Lead is in my city's tap water?
Search your city on The Water Map (https://www.thewatermap.com/) or browse the list on this page. Every U.S. public water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report that lists every contaminant it measured, including Lead.