Is there lead in my drinking water?

Testing water

Portland has removed all known lead service connections from its distribution system, and its water supply consistently meets or surpasses all federal and state drinking water standards.

However, if your home was built between 1970 and 1985, there's a chance that lead solder may have been used to join your plumbing. Furthermore, even new homes may be at risk: by law “lead-free” plumbing may contain up to 8 percent lead. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach significant amounts of lead into the water, especially hot water.

Testing your water for lead

If you want to know if your home’s drinking water contains unsafe levels of lead, have your water tested. Testing is the only way to confirm if lead is present or absent. Request a free water test kit»

You can also call analytical labs in your area to find out if they provide lead-in-water testing.

Easy steps to avoid possible exposure to lead from plumbing

  • Run your water to flush out lead. If the water has not been used for several hours, run each tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes or until it becomes colder before drinking or cooking. This flushes water which may contain lead from the pipes.
  • Use cold, fresh water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap; lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.
  • Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
  • Consider using a filter. Check whether it reduces lead—not all filters do. Be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to protect water quality. Contact NSF International (1-800-NSF-8010) for information on performance standards for water filters.
  • Consider buying low-lead fixtures. New brass faucets, fittings and valves may contribute to lead in your drinking water. Federal law currently allows brass fixtures, such as faucets, to contain up to 8 percent lead. These fixtures are labeled as “lead-free.” When buying new fixtures, consumers should seek out those with the lowest lead content. Visit www.nsf.org to learn more about lead content in plumbing fixtures.

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