How do I test my apartment tap water for lead?

Buy a certified lab test kit online or through your state health department. Collect a first-draw sample, water that has sat in the pipes for at least 6 hours, ideally overnight. Use the kitchen cold tap. Fill the sterile bottle with the very first water that comes out, without running the tap first. Ship it to the certified lab included with the kit. Results typically arrive in 1 to 5 business days.

Is my apartment building required to have lead-free plumbing?

Lead pipes and lead solder were banned for new plumbing in 1986. Buildings constructed after 1986 shouldn't have lead solder or lead service lines. But buildings built before that date, and many built through the early 1990s using older pipe stock, may still have lead solder at joints and brass fixtures with elevated lead content. Your utility's service line to the building may be lead-free while internal building plumbing still contributes lead at the tap.

Does running the tap before drinking reduce lead exposure?

Yes, meaningfully. Lead leaches into water during contact time, the longer water sits in pipes or at fixtures, the more lead it picks up. Flushing the cold tap for 30 to 60 seconds before use pushes out that stagnant water. It's not a permanent fix, but it's a consistent daily reduction in exposure from that tap.

What pitcher filter removes lead from apartment water?

Only filters certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction actually remove lead. Brita's Longlast+ (blue filter) carries NSF 53 certification for lead. Clearly Filtered pitchers also carry NSF 53 certification and typically show higher lead removal rates in testing. Standard Brita filters (white) are not certified for lead. Always check the specific filter model's NSF certificate before buying.

Can my landlord be held liable for lead in tap water?

It depends on your jurisdiction. Federal law (Title X) requires landlords to disclose known lead hazards, though it primarily targets lead paint, not plumbing. Some cities require landlords to test for or disclose lead plumbing. If a landlord knew about a lead hazard and didn't disclose it, that can create liability under local housing codes or tenant protection laws. An attorney familiar with your local housing law can give you a specific answer.

Lead in Apartment Tap Water: What Renters Need to Know

Medical disclaimer: Lead exposure is a serious health concern, especially for children under six and pregnant people. This page provides general information, not medical advice. Contact your pediatrician or healthcare provider about lead exposure concerns.

Most lead water coverage focuses on homeowners. But renters, especially in older apartment buildings, face the same exposure risk with fewer options to fix it.

Your landlord owns the plumbing. You drink the water.

The Building Plumbing Problem

Even if the utility’s service line to your building is copper or plastic, lead can still reach your tap from inside the building. Apartment buildings constructed before 1986 may have lead solder at pipe joints throughout the building’s internal plumbing. Older brass faucets in units can contain significant lead content. Both leach lead into water during contact time.

The 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments banned lead pipes and lead solder for new plumbing. But buildings built before that date weren’t required to re-pipe. Millions of apartments still have that plumbing today.

Buildings built before 1978 may also have lead paint, a separate issue, but worth flagging. If the building is old enough to have lead paint, its plumbing predates the 1986 ban too.

What the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Changes for Renters

The EPA’s 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements require utilities to inventory and replace all lead service lines within 10 years and notify property owners when a lead service line serves their building. That notice goes to the building owner, not necessarily to you.

The rule covers the utility’s service line. Internal building plumbing, inside the property line, is the building owner’s responsibility, not the utility’s. A landlord can receive notice of a lead service line to the building and be under no federal obligation to replace internal pipes.

This gap matters. Ask your landlord what they’ve received from the utility.

What Renters Can Actually Do

You have more options than you might think.

Ask your landlord directly. What material is the service line to the building? Has the building been tested for lead at the tap? Some utilities test premise plumbing on request. Ask if that’s been done and request the results.

Test the tap yourself. A certified lab first-draw lead test for a single tap costs $15 to $40. You don’t need your landlord’s permission to test your own tap water. Collect a first-draw sample, water that has sat in the pipes overnight, and ship it to a certified lab. How to Test Your Tap Water for Lead has the full protocol.

Use an NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter. This is the fastest, cheapest protection available to a renter. A pitcher filter or countertop filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction removes lead at the point of use. You don’t need to install anything permanently, and you can take it when you move.

Flush before drinking. Run cold water for 30 to 60 seconds from any tap before using it for drinking or cooking, especially first thing in the morning. Cold water only, hot water leaches more lead.

Choosing the Right Filter

Not all pitcher filters remove lead. The certification that matters is NSF/ANSI Standard 53, specifically for lead. This is separate from NSF 42, which only covers taste and odor.

Brita’s Longlast+ filter (blue) is NSF 53 certified for lead. Standard Brita filters (white) are not. Clearly Filtered pitchers carry NSF 53 certification for lead with higher published removal rates.

The NSF certification is tied to the specific filter model, not the pitcher brand. Check nsf.org/certified-products before buying, the filter should be listed there with lead in its scope of certification.

Under-sink filters certified to NSF 53 or reverse osmosis systems certified to NSF 58 also work, and remove more lead. But they require installation. Many landlords allow them if no permanent modification is made. A countertop RO unit requires no drilling.

For a comparison of pitcher and under-sink options, see Best Pitcher Water Filters.

Formula-Fed Infants: The Highest Priority

There is no known safe level of lead for children. The risk is highest for infants, because formula is mixed almost entirely with water, delivering any lead in that water directly and consistently.

If your building is old and you haven’t tested your tap, use filtered or bottled water for infant formula now. This isn’t a precaution to think about later. A filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead, or bottled water, is the right answer until you have test results showing your tap is clean.

A Note on Your Rights

Federal law requires landlords to disclose known lead hazards before lease signing under the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act. This primarily applies to lead paint, not plumbing. State and local laws vary significantly. Some cities require landlords to test for lead or disclose known plumbing materials.

If you suspect lead exposure and your landlord won’t engage with the question, contact your local housing authority or a tenant rights organization. Some cities have programs that provide free lead testing for renters upon request.

The practical recommendation: if you live in a building built before 1986, run a first-draw lead test on your kitchen tap. It takes 10 minutes to collect and costs under $40. If the result is above 0 ppb, install a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead on that tap. That one step covers drinking and cooking water, the two ways lead in tap water reaches you.

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Medical disclaimer: WaterAnswer.com provides general information only. Lead health concerns, especially for children and pregnant people, warrant consultation with a pediatrician or healthcare provider.