Right around the time we announced our pregnancy, several friends and family members revealed they were expecting too, and everyone joked that there must be something in the water. That joke kept replaying in my head until I finally wondered: what actually is in our tap water? I caught the end of a Dr. Oz segment about lead in drinking water and practically spit out the glass when he warned that pregnant and nursing women should be cautious with older pipes, since lead is a powerful neurotoxin for developing babies. Clearly it was time to get serious about what’s coming out of our taps.
During a bathroom renovation we had already considered lead paint and used protective measures (we tested an old thrift-store chair before using it in the nursery), but I had never stopped to think that the home’s original plumbing itself might pose a risk. The EPA notes that the age of a home is a major factor: houses built before 1930 are more likely to have lead pipes, and copper plumbing installed before 1988 may contain lead solder. Lead plumbing materials are not allowed in new systems that serve drinking water, which is reassuring.
Our house is from the 1950s and uses galvanized steel piping rather than lead or older copper solder, which helped ease my concerns. But pipes are only half the story. Lead can also appear in trace amounts in municipal water supplies. Dr. Oz suggested calling your local water authority for the annual water quality report, so I phoned our state lab and later spoke with a specialist who helped me interpret the technical results.
No matter where you live, contacting your city council or water department and asking for the water quality report is a good first step. It took persistence—I was transferred several times before I found the right person—but getting that report and calling the lab to walk through the results was well worth the effort. The official report arrived with a lot of abbreviations and symbols, and having someone explain terms like MCL and detection limits finally put my mind at ease.
Our county’s water met or exceeded EPA guidelines, which meant that while trace amounts of various contaminants (arsenic, lead, mercury, etc.) might be detectable at extremely low levels, they were well below thresholds deemed dangerous. Laboratories often report results as “less than” a tiny concentration, which indicates the amount is negligible or effectively zero for practical purposes.
We also already had an under-sink water filter installed, which reduces sediments, chlorine taste and odor—similar to a quality pitcher filter—and is certified to meet safety standards. That extra layer of filtration, combined with compliant municipal water and safer in-home plumbing, gave us additional reassurance.
The takeaway is that if you’re worried about your tap water, there are several practical steps you can take. Purchase a lead testing kit from a home improvement store or hire a certified lab to analyze a sample. Install a certified filtration system to reduce unwanted contaminants. And if your water report shows elevated levels of anything concerning, contact local officials and advocate for remediation—communities can organize petitions and raise awareness to prompt faster action.
The Environmental Working Group maintains a national database of drinking water test results and analysis; their research shows that when the EPA sets mandatory water quality standards, local water suppliers meet them most of the time. Still, many experts urge stricter standards to better protect vulnerable groups like young children and pregnant women.
We also learned some simple, practical rules for reducing exposure to lead in tap water:
- Flush your pipes before use. Run tap water until it gets as cold as it will be before using it for cooking or drinking.
- Use only cold water for drinking and cooking—hot water can dissolve metals like lead more readily.
- Inspect plumbing for signs of lead. Lead pipes and solder are dull gray; when scratched, they appear shiny.
- Test your water with a reliable lead detection product or through a certified lab. If lead is found, identify and remove the source where possible.
One practical annoyance is having to “flush” stagnant water after a period away. To avoid wasting water, we collect the initial runoff in a basin and repurpose it for tasks such as watering plants, washing the car, or cleaning around the house.
After investigating, I feel much more confident about our water: we have compliant municipal supply, safer in-home plumbing, and a certified under-sink filter. Nursing makes me drink a lot of water, so I want to be sure it’s as safe as possible. If you worry about what’s in your glass, start by requesting your annual water report, testing your water, and considering appropriate filtration. And tell us: how do you keep your household water clean—do you use filters or check annual reports? We’d love to hear what’s worked for you.