Lead Contamination of Water: Department of Health

What you should do

Evaluate your drinking water's risk of lead contamination

Older buildings are more likely to have lead in the plumbing. If your home or building was built or plumbed before 1987, you could have lead-soldered copper pipes.

Newer buildings may also be at risk. Plumbing that is lead-free, including brass, can still legally contain some lead, up to .25 % as of 2014. Before 2014, the legal limit of lead content in lead-free plumbing was 8 %.

Call your water supplier to find out if you have a lead service line. If you discover that you do have a lead service line contact your water supplier to see if they offer lead service line replacement funding options. Lead service line replacement is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of exposure to lead in drinking water.

Locate the line coming into your water meter. To determine if it is lead, scratch it with a file. If it shines like a penny, it is made of copper. If it shines like a nickel, it is made of lead. If it does not look like a penny or a nickel, it may be galvanized or plastic. You can watch a demonstration of this test from Providence Water.

Test for lead in drinking water

Testing is the only way to know if your drinking water contains lead.

If you think there is lead in the plumbing supplying the water you drink, contact your water supplier to see if free testing is available. If you have a private well or your water supplier does not provide testing, you can have your water tested by a State-certified lab. Learn more on RIDOH’s website.
If you are concerned about lead in your home, you can have it inspected by a State-certified inspector. Learn more on RIDOH’s website.

Perform routine prevention and control actions, even if no lead was found

Create and follow aerator cleaning schedules for all water faucets so that debris can be removed.

Use only cold water for food preparation and drinking. Hot water dissolves lead faster than cold water.

Flush faucets and drinking fountains regularly, especially after vacations or long periods of inactivity.

Take Suggested Actions if sample results are between 1 ppb and 15 ppb

Remove and clean or replace faucet aerators.

Replace faucets or water fountains with a lead-free, NSF-approved fixture.

Flush the pipes to the faucet or drinking fountain each morning before use. Flushing the pipes will get rid of water that has been in the pipes overnight.

Water faucets should be run for 30 seconds to 1 minute until the water is noticeably colder.
Water fountains with refrigeration should be run for 15 minutes.
Water fountains without refrigeration should be run for 30 seconds to 1 minute until the water is noticeably colder

If lead is detected in the water, test all faucets and drinking fountains on a regular basis.

Schools and businesses should post a Do Not Use sign in bathrooms that indicates water from the affected sink faucets should not be used for drinking water. Put both words and pictures on signs.

Refer to EPA's 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools that includes information on assessing plumbing and implementing control measures to reduce elevated lead levels. The 3Ts also has more information about follow-up testing after remediation actions are completed.

Take Strongly Recommended Actions if sample results are higher than 15 ppb

Do not use water faucets or fountains for drinking water.

If you are a homeowner or renter with city water, get a filter that removes lead from drinking water used for drinking and cooking. Check the label to be sure the filter is certified to remove lead. LIST
If lead is detected in the water, test all faucets and drinking fountains on a regular basis.

Conduct follow-up testing after all of the Strongly Recommended Actions have been completed.

Schools and businesses should post a Do Not Use sign on the faucet or drinking fountain, turn it off, or remove it completely. Put both words and pictures on signs.

Lead Contamination of Water