Lead
There is no safe level of lead in drinking water — especially for children under 6.
Lead in Central Ohio
Columbus has an estimated 50,000+ lead service lines — one of the largest inventories in Ohio. The city has an active replacement program, but most homes built before 1986 may still have lead solder, brass fixtures, or lead service lines connecting to the main.
What Is Lead?
Lead enters drinking water not from the source, but from the plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder at pipe joints, lead-containing brass fixtures, or full lead service lines connecting the home to the water main. Lead is a potent neurotoxin with no safe exposure level, particularly for children under 6 and pregnant women. The EPA's "action level" of 15 ppb is not a health-based standard — it's a trigger for utility action. The actual health-based goal (MCLG) is zero.
Health Effects of Lead
Signs You May Have Lead in Your Water
No taste or color
Lead is completely undetectable by taste, smell, or appearance. Testing is the only way to know.
Developmental delays in children
Even low-level chronic exposure can cause measurable IQ reduction and behavioral changes in children under 6.
Elevated blood pressure in adults
Long-term lead exposure is linked to hypertension and increased cardiovascular risk in adults.
How to Remove Lead from Your Water
Not all filtration systems remove Lead. Here's what actually works.
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
RecommendedRO removes 95–99% of lead at the point of use. This is the most effective residential solution for lead in drinking and cooking water.
Whole-Home Carbon + KDF Filtration
A whole-home system with KDF media can reduce lead throughout the house, protecting shower water and appliances in addition to drinking water.
Lead Questions & Answers
Related Contaminants
Synthetic chemicals that never break down — and accumulate in your body over time.
A serious risk for infants and pregnant women — especially in rural Central Ohio well water.
Found in virtually every water source on Earth — including Columbus tap water.
Is Lead in Your Water?
The only way to know for certain is to test. We'll come to your home, test your water on the spot, and show you exactly what's in it — no pressure, no obligation.