Lead in drinking water usually comes from water distribution lines or household plumbing rather than lakes, wells or streams. Lead from other sources, such as ingesting old-paint chips or dust, can add to the effects of lead in water.

Health Issues

Because the nervous and circulatory systems in young children are not fully developed, lead and other toxic substances can easily enter the brain. Long-term exposure to even low levels of lead can cause irreversible learning difficulties, mental retardation, and delayed neurological and physical development. Infants and children up to age 6 are most susceptible to these toxic effects. Pregnant women exposed to lead can pass the effects to their unborn child. Exposure for adults primarily affects the nervous system. It can impair hearing, vision, and muscle coordination. Lead is also toxic to the blood, kidney, heart, and reproductive system.

Lead poisoning is a particular problem because there may be no unique signs or symptoms associated with lead exposure. Early symptoms of lead poisoning may include loss of appetite, fatigue, irritability, anemia and, sometimes, abdominal pain. Because of the general nature of symptoms at this stage, lead poisoning is not often suspected.

Measuring Lead in Drinking Water

Lead may be present in your home drinking water if:

There are lead pipes, brass fixtures, or lead connectors in your home or community water system.
Lead solder was used on your home water pipes.
You have soft water (low mineral content), or acidic water.

The only way to know the amount of lead in your household water is to have your water tested. Many certified labs in Washington perform these tests for $20 to $40 per test. Lab staff can answer questions and tell you how to collect water samples. For the name of a certified drinking water laboratory near you, call the Office of Drinking Water (see phone list on page 2).

Reducing Lead Exposure

Ways to reduce lead in home drinking water:

If water in a particular faucet is not used for six hours or longer, "flush" the pipes by running cold water through it until the water is noticeably colder—about one minute. The more time water sits in your home’s pipes, the more lead and other dissolved metals the water may contain.
Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Hot water may contain higher levels of lead.
Clean the screens and aerators in faucets frequently to remove captured lead particles.
If building or remodeling, only use “lead free” piping and materials for plumbing.

Drinking Water Regulations

We require public water systems to:

Collect samples from some residential customers.
Treat the water when more than 10 percent of samples exceed the action level (0.015 parts per million).
Provide annual public education to all consumers when samples exceed the action level for lead.

For More Information

Visit the Office of Drinking Water Web site or call:

Southwest Region, Tumwater (360) 236-3030
Northwest Region, Kent (253) 395-6750
Eastern Region, Spokane Valley (509) 329-2100
General Information (800) 521-0323
Department of Health’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program: (800) 909-9898

November, 2009
DOH PUB. #331-177

Dept. of Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

School lead testing results from 2005 grant program (PDF 156KB)

Lead in School Drinking Water (PDF 70KB)

Testing for lead in School Drinking Water (PDF 811KB)

Lead and Copper Monitoring Guidance (PDF 52 KB)

List of Labs Accredited to Conduct Drinking Water Lead Analysis (DOC 43 KB)

Lead and Copper Sampling Procedure (PDF 117 KB)

Lead and Your Kids: A Parent's Guide

More publications are available through our on-line publication catalog

Links:

Drinking Water in schools and child care facilities (Guidance and Tools (EPA Web Site)

Dept. of Ecology Web Site

DOH Home | Division of Environmental Health| Drinking Water Home | Access Washington
Privacy Notice | Disclaimer/Copyright Information

Links to external resources are provided as a public service and do not imply endorsement
by the Washington State Department of Health

Dept. of Health
Office of Drinking Water
243 Israel Road S.E. 2nd floor
Tumwater, WA 98501

Mail:
P.O. Box 47822
Olympia, WA 98504-7822
(360) 236-3100

Send inquiries about DOH and its programs to the Health Consumer Assistance Office
Comments or questions regarding this Web site? Send mail to Office of Drinking Water.

Last Update : 12/16/2009 03:13 PM