{"id":37,"date":"2020-02-27T19:48:30","date_gmt":"2020-02-28T00:48:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/njdep.kesz1dev.com\/watersupply\/?page_id=37"},"modified":"2026-02-12T09:29:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T14:29:36","slug":"lead","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/watersupply\/drinking-water-systems\/drinking-water-contaminants\/lead\/","title":{"rendered":"Lead in Drinking Water"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” css=”.vc_custom_1711553170088{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;background-image: url(https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/watersupply\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/photosimages\/lead-in-drinking-water-1.png?id=5371) !important;}”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Lead in Drinking Water” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:50px|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_custom_heading text=”Learn more about lead and find resources for consumers, schools and public water systems” font_container=”tag:p|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][breadcrumb-shortcode][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Lead is not normally found in drinking water at the source.\u00a0 Typically, lead gets into your drinking water from the service lines, plumbing and fixtures that contain lead.\u00a0 As a result of corrosion, lead and other metals from the pipes slowly dissolve into the water.\u00a0 Many factors affect the amount of lead that leaches into the water, including lead content of pipes, fixtures, and solder, along with water temperature, pH and hardness. \u00a0Lead is associated with adverse health impacts even at low levels, particularly in infants and children.[\/vc_column_text][vc_message css=””]<\/p>\n

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On February 2, 2026 NJDEP proposed new rules which would serve to better protect the public from the risk of lead in drinking water. To learn more about these rules, you can read the public notice<\/u><\/a>.<\/span><\/div>\n

[\/vc_message][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][info-box-shortcode title=”Lead in Drinking Water – Schools” buttontitle=”Resources for School & Learning Facilities” buttonlink=”https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/watersupply\/drinking-water-systems\/drinking-water-contaminants\/lead\/schools-lead-sampling-information\/” bgimg=”8313″][\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][info-box-shortcode title=”Lead in Drinking Water – Public Systems” buttontitle=”Resources for Community (CWS) and Non-Transient Non-Community (NTNC) Water Systems” buttonlink=”https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/watersupply\/drinking-water-systems\/drinking-water-contaminants\/lead\/water-systems-2\/” bgimg=”5311″][\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][info-box-shortcode title=”Lead in Drinking Water – Consumers” buttontitle=”Resources for those who are served by a Community Water System (CWS)” buttonlink=”https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/watersupply\/drinking-water-systems\/drinking-water-contaminants\/lead\/consumer-lead-in-drinking-water\/” bgimg=”8289″][\/info-box-shortcode][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_message message_box_style=”3d” message_box_color=”peacoc”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\nFlush your pipes before drinking, and only use cold water for cooking and drinking<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n

Anytime the water in a particular faucet has not been used for six hours or longer, flush your cold-water pipes by running the water until it becomes cold.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

[\/vc_message][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_tta_accordion color=”white” c_icon=”chevron” c_position=”right” active_section=”800″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”What are the Health Effects of Lead?” tab_id=”what-are-the-health-effects-of-lead”][vc_column_text]Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the\u00a0<\/span>brain and\u00a0kidneys and\u00a0can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of\u00a0<\/span>lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in\u00a0<\/span>children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is\u00a0<\/span>stored in the bones, and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother\u2019s bones, which may\u00a0<\/span>affect brain development.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_accordion color=”white” c_icon=”chevron” c_position=”right” active_section=”800″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”What are the Sources Of Lead” tab_id=”what-are-the-sources-of-lead”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Although most lead exposure occurs when people eat paint chips and inhale dust, or from contaminated soil, USEPA estimates that 20 <\/span>percent  or more of human exposure to lead may come from lead in drinking water. Lead is rarely found in source water but enters tap water <\/span>through corrosion of plumbing materials. New brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as \u201clead-free\u201d, may contribute <\/span>lead to drinking water. The law currently allows end-use brass fixtures, such as faucets, with up to 0.25 percent lead to be labeled as \u201clead <\/span>free\u201d. However, prior to January 4, 2014, \u201clead free\u201d allowed up to 8 percent lead content of the wetted surfaces of plumbing products <\/span>including those labeled National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certified. Consumers should be aware of this when choosing fixtures and take <\/span>appropriate precautions.<\/span>\u200b<\/p>\n

When water stands in Lead pipes or plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may dissolve into your drinking <\/span>water. This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning, or later in the afternoon if the water has not been used all day, can <\/span>contain fairly high levels of lead.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_accordion color=”white” c_icon=”chevron” c_position=”right” active_section=”800″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”What Can I Do to Reduce Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water?” tab_id=”what-can-I-do-to-reduce-exposure”][vc_column_text css=””]Effective steps to protect yourself and your family from the risk of lead in drinking water are available here<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”top”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Drinking Water Contaminants” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_custom_heading text=”There are many different chemicals that can contaminate drinking water in New Jersey. Many are regulated under state and\/or federal drinking water standards. Listed below are some contaminants of concern in NJ.” font_container=”tag:p|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1710342309888{padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”][vc_tta_accordion color=”white” c_icon=”chevron” c_position=”right” active_section=”800″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Regulated” tab_id=”regulated-contaminants”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

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