How do I know if I have lead pipes?

The age of the building is the first clue, particularly before the 1960s. Visually, a lead pipe is grey, matt, soft and scratches easily. If in doubt, call a plumber and ask your water utility or regional health agency.

Is lead in water dangerous?

Lead is a toxic metal and exposure should be reduced as much as possible, especially for children and pregnant women. This is why the regulation sets a low limit and defines no desirable level.

Should I let the water run before drinking it?

After long stagnation in the pipes, letting the water run for a moment avoids drinking the water that stayed in contact with the pipework. It is an interim habit, useful but no substitute for replacing lead pipes.

Does a filter pitcher remove lead?

Not systematically. Only devices certified for lead reduction, under a standard such as NSF/ANSI 53, claim that effect. A basic pitcher mainly targets taste.

Who pays for replacing the pipes?

The public part of the connection is the water service’s responsibility, indoor plumbing the owner’s or the building’s. Your water utility can tell you where responsibility ends for your address.

Lead guide

Lead in tap water: what can you do?

Lead in tap water does not come from the water resource but from pipes: old service connections, riser columns and indoor plumbing in the oldest buildings.

The regulatory limit for drinking water is 10 µg/L, and the European timetable provides for lowering it to 5 µg/L. Unlike other parameters, no level is considered desirable: the aim is to reduce exposure as much as possible.

Extra caution applies to children and pregnant women. For any individual situation, refer to your regional health agency, the Ministry of Health or Anses.

Run the diagnostic Check my municipality

This page is informative. Only a sample taken at the tap in your home can settle your situation.

Why lead comes from the plumbing

Lead was used for decades in service connections and indoor pipework, mainly in buildings from before the 1960s. It dissolves on contact with water, especially when the water stagnates in the pipes for a long time.

That is why two homes supplied by the same network can show very different results: the cause lies after the meter, in the private plumbing.

Am I concerned?

The first clue is the age of the building and the state of its plumbing. An old home that has never been renovated is worth checking.

Check the analyses published for your municipality: they describe the public distribution network.
Have the home plumbing inspected: lead pipes are grey, matt and scratch easily, unlike copper or plastic.
If in doubt, ask your regional health agency or water utility how to have a sample taken at the tap.

Water quality by municipality Water diagnostic

The solutions, in the right order

For lead, the priority is to address the cause, not only the water as it leaves the tap.

1.Identify then replace lead pipes

This is the only definitive solution. Replacement covers both the service connection and indoor plumbing; in a shared building it involves collective decisions and the owner.

2.Let the water run after prolonged stagnation

While waiting for the work, letting the water run for a moment after a long period without use (overnight, holidays) reduces exposure. Use cold water only for drinking and cooking.

3.Use a filter certified for lead

Only devices explicitly certified for lead reduction, for example under a standard such as NSF/ANSI 53, are relevant. A basic pitcher is not necessarily enough: check that lead is named in the certification and respect cartridge lifetimes.

4.Confirm with an analysis

A sample taken at the tap, under the conditions indicated by the authorities, confirms or rules out the problem and guides the work.

Which water filter to choose Filter pitcher comparison

Limits and when to act

A filter, even a certified one, is an interim measure: it does not fix the source of the problem and depends entirely on its maintenance.

If your home is old and children or a pregnant woman live there, checking should not be postponed.

Individual health decisions belong to the authorities and health professionals, not to an online guide or an equipment seller.

Our recommendations for every budget

Three options by budget level. Each product is listed with what it actually treats and its limits.

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