What steps can I take to limit my family’s exposure to lead?

Customers concerned about lead in their drinking water can take a few simple precautions to limit any potential exposure to lead:

  • Only drink from the cold water tap. Hot water can leach more minerals from your plumbing.
  • If the water has been unused for a period of time, flush off the "stagnant" water before taking a drink. Running the cold water tap until the water becomes noticeably colder ensures water that has been sitting in your household plumbing has been flushed off.

More common sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint in older homes, contaminated soils, and dust. Read about all sources of lead exposure and how to minimize exposure on the Environmental Protection Agency's website.