Metals
Lead in U.S. tap water
824 public water systems across 36 U.S. states report Lead in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. 13 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 (13)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan Beach-city, Water Dept. — Manhattan Beach, Ca, CA 2020 annual report | 0–43 ug/L | 2.9× the limit |
| Lubbock, TX 2024 annual report | 41 ug/L | 2.7× the limit |
| San Bernardino Valley Wd — San Bernardino, Ca, CA 2023 annual report | 40 ug/L | 2.7× the limit |
| West Valley Water District — Rialto, Ca, CA 2023 annual report | 40 ug/L | 2.7× the limit |
| Monte Vista Wd — Montclair, Ca, CA 2023 annual report | 33 ug/L | 2.2× the limit |
| Phelan Pinon Hills Csd — Phelan, Ca, CA 2023 annual report | 32 ug/L | 2.1× the limit |
| Adelanto, City of — Adelanto, Ca, CA 2023 annual report | 31 ug/L | 2.1× the limit |
| Frisco, TX 2024 annual report | 28 ug/L | 1.9× the limit |
| New Orleans, LA 2024 annual report | 0–22 ug/L | 1.5× the limit |
| Henderson, NV 2024 annual report | 20 ug/L | 1.3× the limit |
| Cheltenham Youth Facility, MD 2024 annual report | 0–19 ug/L | 1.3× the limit |
| Las Vegas, NV 2023 annual report | 16 ug/L | 1.1× the limit |
| Western MWD — Riverside, Ca, CA 2023 annual report | 15 ug/L | 1.0× the limit |
Approaching the limit (4)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| California Water Service Co-leona Valley — San Jose, Ca, CA 2023 annual report | 14.7 ug/L | 1.0× the limit |
| Cambridge, MA 2024 annual report | 0–14 ug/L | 0.9× the limit |
| Sunny Slope Water Co. — Pasadena, Ca, CA 2021 annual report | 0–13 ug/L | 0.9× the limit |
| Strathmore Public Util Dist — Strathmore, Ca, CA 2023 annual report | 0.013 mg/L | 0.9× the limit |
Within the federal limit (799)
Showing 50 of 799. 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 MCLG for Lead is 0 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?
13 of the 824 public water systems on The Water Map report Lead at or above its federal limit, spanning 36 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.