Lead Risk Assessment
Enter your ZIP code for an area-level lead score, then add your home details for a personalized risk assessment with filter recommendations.
- Pre-computed 0–100 lead score for 32,000+ ZIP codes
- Personalized risk profile based on your home's age and plumbing
- Filter recommendations with cost estimates if lead risk is elevated
Get a Personalized Assessment
The area score above reflects your ZIP code's average. Add your home details for a more precise, household-specific risk score.
How This Tool Works
This tool combines two assessments into one:
- Area Lead Score (ZIP code only) - a pre-computed 0–100 score combining EPA water testing results (PB90), Census housing age data, and LCRI infrastructure allotments. Covers 32,000+ U.S. ZIP codes.
- Personal Risk Assessment (home details) - factors in your specific home's year built, water source, children in the household, and recent plumbing work for a more precise risk profile with filter recommendations.
Area Score Methodology
| Factor | Weight | Source | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Age | Up to 40 pts | Census B25034 | % of homes built before 1986 (lead solder) and before 1950 (lead service lines) |
| Water Lead Level | Up to 35 pts | EPA LCR / CCR Reports | 90th percentile lead level from utility testing (PB90, in ppb) |
| Infrastructure | Up to 25 pts | Census + LCRI Allotments | Lead service line probability + state LCRI funding level |
Why Lead Exposure Risk Varies by Home
Even if your water utility reports low lead levels at the treatment plant, lead can enter your water through your home's own plumbing. The main risk factors are:
- Lead service lines - homes built before 1930 may have lead pipes connecting them to the water main.
- Lead solder - copper pipes installed before 1986 were often joined with lead-based solder, which was banned by the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments.
- Brass fixtures - older faucets and valves may contain up to 8% lead. The 2014 Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act lowered the limit to 0.25%.
- Water chemistry - corrosive water (low pH, low mineral content) leaches more lead from pipes and solder.
Understanding the EPA Action Level
The EPA Lead and Copper Rule uses a water system's 90th percentile value (PB90) to trigger system-level duties. The current lead action level is 15 parts per billion (ppb). Under the final LCRI, it changes to 10 ppb on November 1, 2027. An exceedance can trigger public notification, corrosion-control, monitoring, and service-line obligations for the water system.
PB90 is a regulatory statistic across sampled customer taps, not a health-based limit for an individual home. EPA states that lead can be harmful even at low exposure, and CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. A home-specific water test is needed to measure a particular tap.
Lead Exposure Risk by Home Age
| Home Built | Primary Lead Risk | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1930 | Lead service lines + lead solder + lead paint | Very High |
| 1930 – 1949 | Lead solder + some lead service lines + lead paint | High |
| 1950 – 1969 | Lead solder on copper pipes + lead paint (pre-1978) | Moderate-High |
| 1970 – 1985 | Lead solder on copper pipes | Moderate |
| 1986 – 2013 | Brass fixtures (up to 8% lead allowed until 2014) | Low |
| 2014+ | Minimal (lead-free fixtures required) | Very Low |
Risk Levels
| Score | Risk Level | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 20 | Low | Newer housing, low lead detection, minimal infrastructure risk. Standard precautions apply. |
| 21 – 45 | Moderate | Mixed housing age, some lead detection possible. Consider water testing. |
| 46 – 70 | High | Older housing stock, measurable lead levels, or aging infrastructure. Water testing recommended. |
| 71 – 100 | Very High | Pre-1950 housing dominance, elevated lead detection, known service line risk. Immediate testing and filtration recommended. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What lead level in water is considered safe?
The current EPA lead action level is 15 ppb and applies to a water system's 90th percentile tap result, not as a household safety threshold. The final LCRI changes the system action level to 10 ppb on November 1, 2027. A result below either level does not prove that an individual home's tap is lead-free.
My home was built after 1986. Am I safe from lead?
The 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments banned lead solder and limited lead in plumbing fixtures, but homes built between 1986 and 2014 may still have fixtures containing up to 8% lead. The 2014 standard reduced this to 0.25%. Additionally, the water service line connecting your home to the street may still be lead regardless of home age.
How can I test my tap water for lead?
Start with EPA's directory of <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dwlabcert/contact-information-certification-programs-and-certified-laboratories-drinking-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state-certified drinking water laboratories</a> or ask your water utility about testing. Follow the selected laboratory's sampling instructions exactly. Tap Score is a separate paid affiliate mail-in option, not the federal laboratory directory.
Does boiling water remove lead?
No. Boiling water does not remove lead. Use only cold tap water for drinking, cooking, and baby formula, and consider a filter certified to reduce lead. EPA says flushing time depends on the service line and home plumbing, so contact your water utility for local instructions instead of relying on one universal duration.
How much does it cost to replace lead pipes?
Replacing a lead service line (the pipe from the water main to your home) typically costs $3,000-$10,000 depending on length, depth, and local labor rates. Many water utilities now offer free or subsidized replacement programs under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). Contact your water utility to check eligibility.
Data Sources & Methodology
Data Sources
- EPA SDWIS — 90th percentile lead levels (PB90) from utility tap testing
- Census ACS (B25034) — Housing year built distribution by ZIP code
- EPA LCRI Allotments — Lead service line inventory and replacement funding data
Methodology
The area score combines three weighted factors: housing age (up to 40 pts based on pre-1986 and pre-1950 housing stock), water lead level (up to 35 pts from PB90 testing), and infrastructure risk (up to 25 pts from LCRI allotments and service line probability). Personal assessment adds home-specific factors including year built, water source, children, and plumbing history.