Test first
Know the problem before you buy
City water, a private well, lead plumbing, and a metals worry each need a different test. Start with your annual report and a service-line check.
Choose my water test →EPA Lead & Copper Rule
Is there lead in the pipe to your home?
A clear, sourced guide to the EPA's 2027 lead-pipe rule — a 60-second risk check, what replacement costs and who pays, and the filters that actually remove lead.
Sources EPA · EPA lead health
~4M
estimated lead service lines still serve U.S. properties
Source · EPA lead service lines pageNov 2027
EPA's deadline for systems to comply with the LCRI
Source · EPA LCRIZero
amount of lead in drinking water the EPA considers safe
Source · EPAInteractive · The 60-second check
Find out where your home stands
Answer a few questions — your result updates live with a clear risk level, what to do next, and certified filters matched to your home.
—/ 100 lead-risk index
Before you test or buy — the essentials
Testing hub →Certified filters
Only two labels actually remove lead
Most pitchers are certified for taste, not lead. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 (filters) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis) on the exact model.
Best lead filters 2026 →Who pays
Check before you pay for the line
Service lines have a public and a private side. Many utilities offer cost-share or full replacement — and a non-approved contractor can disqualify you.
Who pays to replace it →More on filters NSF 53 vs 58 Does a Brita remove lead or PFAS? Best PFAS filters
Guides & explainers
Regulation hub →
Regulations
Lead water regulations, in one place
The 2027 EPA rule, service-line inventories, annual water reports, and filter certification labels — source-linked and homeowner-first.
Water Watch
What lead-water updates are worth watching?
A small watch desk for laws, city lookup pages, annual reports, and practical household actions — not a thin news feed.
Water testing
Home kit, certified lab, or utility report?
Use the right test for the decision: screening kit, certified lab, annual water report, lead-specific test, or private-well panel.
Costs
Who actually pays to replace a lead service line?
Private-side payment rules vary by city and utility. Where to find cost-share or full-replacement help before you spend a dollar.
How-to
Test your pipe in two minutes
A coin, a magnet, and a flashlight tell you more about your incoming pipe than most people realize.
Reviews
The filters that actually remove lead
Generic filter claims are not enough. Look for model-level certification for lead reduction — usually NSF/ANSI 53, or NSF/ANSI 58 for reverse osmosis.
Explainer
What the 2027 EPA rule means for your home
Every lead line in America has to come out. The clock started quietly in October 2024.
Guide
Lead, galvanized, or copper? Decode your utility notice
Utilities have mailed millions of letters since 2024. Here is how to read the one in your mailbox.
Map
Is your city replacing its lead lines yet?
Chicago, Detroit, Newark and more — where the largest replacement programs in the country stand.
Testing, filters & reports
Testing hub →
Lead testing
How to test your water for lead
Lead is invisible and tasteless. The real path is service-line clues, certified sampling, and a filter while you wait.
Filter labels
NSF 53 vs 58: the labels that matter
Most pitchers are certified for taste, not lead. How to verify the exact model before you buy.
Contaminants
Heavy metals in water: what to test first
Lead, copper, arsenic and more need different context. Start with your source and local risk, not a scary search.
Water report
How to read your annual water report
The yearly CCR describes the system, not your tap. What to look for — and why a clean report is not proof.
Inventory
Read your utility's inventory result
What lead, galvanized, unknown, and non-lead mean in the lookup — and why "unknown" is not a clean bill.
City
Chicago lead pipes: check the lookup first
Chicago has the country's largest lead-line backlog. Use the official Lead Safe Chicago lookup before you guess.
PFAS rule
The EPA PFAS rule, explained
EPA set the first national PFAS limits in 2024 — then proposed in 2026 to push the deadline to 2031 and roll part of it back. Where it stands, and what to do regardless.
PFAS filters
Best PFAS water filters in 2026
Most "PFAS" filters are not certified for it. The verified picks by type that carry a model-level NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 PFOA/PFOS claim — and what does not count.
Private wells
Private well testing: what to test, how often
Wells sit outside the federal rules — testing is on you. The EPA/CDC schedule: annual basics, a periodic metals panel, and when to test right away.
The 2027 rule
Why this is happening now
The EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) require water systems to identify service-line materials, notify affected customers, and replace lead and certain galvanized lines under their control. Read the full 2027 rule guide →
Oct 2024
Notices begin
Water systems had to complete initial service-line inventories and notify people served by lead, galvanized, or unknown lines. Yours may be one of those notices.
Nov 2027
The rule takes effect
The lower 10 ppb lead action level, updated inventories, public replacement planning, and stronger communication rules become the operative standard.
2027–37
Ten-year replacement
Most systems must replace lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines under their control within ten years; a limited number get longer schedules.
FAQ
Common questions
How do I know if I have a lead service line?
Three quick signals: a notice from your water utility (these began under the 2024 inventory rules), the age of your home (lead pipes are more likely in homes built before 1986), and a scratch + magnet test on your incoming pipe — soft, dull gray, shiny when scratched and non-magnetic points to lead. The risk check above combines these; your utility inventory, an inspection, or a licensed plumber confirms the line material. A certified water test confirms whether lead is present in your drinking water.
Who pays to replace a lead service line?
Ownership and payment rules vary by city, state, and utility. Many systems distinguish the public side from the private side, and some programs cover the full line while others require cost-share. Ask your utility about assistance and approved contractors before paying out of pocket.
What water filter actually removes lead?
Look for model-level certification for lead reduction: NSF/ANSI 53 for lead-reduction filters, or NSF/ANSI 58 for reverse-osmosis systems. Many generic pitchers and faucet filters are certified only for taste/odor, not lead. Certified lead filtration is usually point-of-use, so protect the taps used for drinking and cooking while you confirm the line and plan replacement.
What is the EPA 2027 lead pipe rule (LCRI)?
The EPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements require water systems to comply in late 2027, lower the lead action level to 10 ppb, and require most systems to replace lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines under their control within ten years. Systems must maintain public inventories and notify people served by lead, galvanized, or unknown lines.
Are lead pipes dangerous?
Lead can be harmful even when water looks and tastes normal. EPA and CDC guidance both treat lead in drinking water as a serious exposure risk, especially for children and pregnant people, so lead, galvanized-requiring-replacement, or unknown service-line status is a reason to verify your pipe, test drinking water, and use certified point-of-use filtration while replacement is planned.