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Water data study · Updated July 2026

Lead in U.S. Tap Water, by State and System

723 public water systems reported a 90th-percentile lead sample above the EPA’s 15 ppb action level. There is no safe level of lead in drinking water.

723
systems above the 15 ppb lead action level
of 20,978 systems with lead sampling on record
Key findings
  • 723 water systems reported a 90th-percentile lead level above the EPA’s 15-ppb action level.
  • There is no known safe level of lead in drinking water.
  • Lead usually enters water from old household pipes and solder — not the source — so levels vary tap to tap.
  • Only filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead actually remove it; a basic taste filter does not.

What this means, in plain English

Lead is a metal that’s dangerous even in small amounts — especially for babies and young children, where it can harm the developing brain. It usually doesn’t come from the water source; it leaks in from old lead pipes and solder between the water main and your tap. Systems test a sample of homes and report the “90th-percentile” level — meaning 9 out of 10 homes tested at or below that number. The EPA’s “action level” is 15 parts per billion. We found 723 systems that reported a level above it.

What you can do

Because lead comes from pipes near your home, your tap can differ from the system average. If you’re concerned, use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead, run cold water before drinking, and look up your system’s report for its most recent level.

Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead specifically — an NSF 42 'taste and odor' filter does not remove lead.
See filters certified to remove lead →

By state

States ranked by number of affected public water systems. Click a state for its city-by-city water quality.

# StateSystemsPeople served
1 Pennsylvania 338 278,745
2 New Hampshire 70 26,405
3 Washington 23 381,765
4 Arkansas 22 27,659
5 Michigan 21 103,475
6 North Carolina 17 126,657
7 New York 16 71,998
8 California 16 31,286
9 Oregon 15 19,505
10 Florida 13 35,248
11 Illinois 12 447,441
12 Puerto Rico 12 26,914
13 New Jersey 10 14,983
14 Texas 9 17,833
15 Oklahoma 8 10,572
16 Wisconsin 8 6,824
17 Connecticut 8 1,635
18 Ohio 7 154,555
19 Arizona 7 6,636
20 Utah 6 29,902
21 Indiana 6 19,818
22 Massachusetts 6 6,221
23 New Mexico 6 416
24 Vermont 5 4,583
25 Rhode Island 5 3,612
26 Georgia 5 748
27 Minnesota 4 29,720
28 Alabama 4 17,391
29 West Virginia 4 3,297
30 Missouri 4 1,043
31 Maine 4 536
32 Louisiana 3 7,538
33 Idaho 3 715
34 South Carolina 2 7,146
35 Mississippi 2 5,006
36 Montana 2 375
37 Colorado 2 361
38 Nevada 2 270
39 Maryland 2 150
40 Alaska 2 149
41 Delaware 1 9,627
42 Northern Mariana Islands 1 454
43 District of Columbia 1 60
44 Iowa 1 59
45 Virginia 1 40

Most affected water systems

The 250 highest-ranking systems. Search for your city or utility.

# Water systemCityState90th-pct lead
1 East Taylor Muni Auth Johnstown PA 30037000.0 ppb
2 Weston Snr Living At Hillcrest Stroudsburg PA 3428.0 ppb
3 Nahma Township Nahma MI 3000.0 ppb
4 Portage Terrace Suwanee GA 2500.0 ppb
5 Christ Church Wellsboro PA 1252.2 ppb
6 Aqua Pa Mt Jewett Sharon PA 1000.0 ppb
7 Muncy Borough Water Company Muncy PA 890.0 ppb
8 North Coventry Water System Pottstown PA 800.0 ppb
9 Urban Outfitters Gap PA 756.0 ppb
10 Warwick Water Works King Of Prussia PA 696.0 ppb
11 Eei Meadows Complex Dallas PA 672.2 ppb
12 Sullivan Trail Village Easton PA 669.5 ppb
13 Unity Env University-Activities New Gloucester ME 517.0 ppb
14 Cherokee Day Camp Bensalem PA 495.0 ppb
15 Estates At Stone Row East Stroudsburg PA 486.5 ppb
16 Dayton Public Water System Dayton OH 470.0 ppb
17 Bow Technologies Center Epsom NH 452.0 ppb
18 Ontelaunee Farms Temple PA 424.5 ppb
19 Valley Crossing Coatesville PA 417.0 ppb
20 International Water Co Derby VT 400.0 ppb
21 Blue Heron Homeowners Assoc Moscow PA 382.0 ppb
22 Pleasant View Water Fac Board Mulberry AR 370.0 ppb
23 Northern Tier Childrens Home Harrison Valley PA 356.6 ppb
24 Millbrook #8 Greentown PA 342.8 ppb
25 Kennametal Inc Fallon NV 340.0 ppb
26 Duncannon Muni Water Duncannon PA 301.0 ppb
27 Woodhaven Mobile Home Park Cumming GA 300.0 ppb
28 Gov Mifflin Brecknock Elem Sch Shillington PA 290.5 ppb
29 Lakeland Correctional Facility Grass Lake MI 289.7 ppb
30 Country Living Apts Winston-Salem NC 280.0 ppb
31 Hopkinton Village Pct Northwood NH 280.0 ppb
32 Brinton Manor Glen Mills PA 271.0 ppb
33 Crystal Window & Door Dalton PA 245.0 ppb
34 183 Solrac 5 Methuen MA 245.0 ppb
35 Pediatric Specialty Care Pt Pleasant PA 230.5 ppb
36 Red Rock Job Corps Center Lopez PA 222.6 ppb
37 Alton Water Works Alton NH 210.0 ppb
38 Amon G Carter Lake Wsc Bowie TX 207.1 ppb
39 Himalayan Institute Honesdale PA 201.0 ppb
40 Tri County Rwdd -Moores Chapel Russellville AR 200.0 ppb
41 Mt Gretna Campmeeting Assn Mount Gretna PA 199.5 ppb
42 Lands End Moultonborough NH 199.0 ppb
43 Bimbo Bakeries Usa Inc Williamsport PA 175.6 ppb
44 Bnh Llc Stillwater PA 172.7 ppb
45 Deer Island Heights Ws St Helens OR 166.0 ppb
46 Durham Nock Elem School Kintnersville PA 165.5 ppb
47 Acueducto Rural San Jose Naranjito PR 161.0 ppb
48 Sagedale Apartments Moses Lake WA 160.9 ppb
49 Abenaki Water/White Rock Water Monroe CT 160.0 ppb
50 Yerkes Water Association Collegeville PA 160.0 ppb
51 Lake Raylean Water Association Montrose PA 152.4 ppb
52 Americold Covington Township PA 145.5 ppb
53 New Oxford Manor Mhp Banner Elk NC 144.0 ppb
54 Polk Center Polk PA 140.0 ppb
55 Kampel Enterprises Inc Wellsville PA 140.0 ppb
56 Tenney Brook Condos I Sandown NH 140.0 ppb
57 Freedom Village Condos Gilford NH 137.0 ppb
58 Troxell Building Allentown PA 136.5 ppb
59 Mazda Motor Of America Covington Township PA 135.0 ppb
60 Village At Camelback Tannersville PA 133.0 ppb
61 Corewell Health-Berrien Cntr St Joseph MI 130.0 ppb
62 Plantation Manor- Papaya 129.5 ppb
63 Cobbs Lake Preserve Lake Ariel PA 129.0 ppb
64 Chicora Medical Center Chicora PA 128.2 ppb
65 Northridge At Camelback Tannersville PA 122.8 ppb
66 Buckingham Vly Rehab & Nursing Newtown PA 120.8 ppb
67 Kingston Center An0 Bronx NY 116.0 ppb
68 Phb Machining Division Fairview PA 116.0 ppb
69 Monroe Plaza Peckville PA 115.0 ppb
70 Country Club For Kids Raymond NH 115.0 ppb
71 Pleasant Hall Manor Landisburg PA 112.0 ppb
72 Moniteau Jr/Sr High School West Sunbury PA 107.3 ppb
73 Zwicky Recycling Fleetwood PA 105.0 ppb
74 Country Charm Estates 1 Kenosha WI 105.0 ppb
75 Anchor River Inn Soldotna AK 105.0 ppb
76 Parkwood Sun Valley ID 104.6 ppb
77 Penn 80 Milton Milton PA 103.0 ppb
78 Treasure Island Burlingame CA 100.0 ppb
79 Leola Waterworks Leola AR 100.0 ppb
80 Locust Grove Retirement Home Mifflin PA 100.0 ppb
81 Mcdonalds Restaurant Hilliard OH 99.0 ppb
82 Villas At Georgetown Christiana PA 98.0 ppb
83 Paw Winola Bangor PA 97.7 ppb
84 Mission Creek Corrections Center Belfair WA 92.0 ppb
85 Congregation Ohr Menachem Canadensis PA 90.2 ppb
86 Highland Court Parkesburg PA 89.0 ppb
87 Laguna Seca Recreation Ws Salinas CA 87.0 ppb
88 Ark Learning Center Londonderry Nh 03053 NH 87.0 ppb
89 Giorgi Farm 1 Temple PA 86.5 ppb
90 Mid Lakes Development Blakeslee PA 86.2 ppb
91 Goffstown Village Pct Goffstown NH 86.0 ppb
92 Spruce Lake Retreat Center Canadensis PA 84.0 ppb
93 Huefner Spring Water Lucinda PA 83.5 ppb
94 D Water Company Olyphant PA 83.3 ppb
95 Winslow Twp Mun Util-Ivystone Braddock NJ 81.8 ppb
96 New Morgan Boro Util Auth Morgantown PA 81.6 ppb
97 Gluco Lodge Stroudsburg PA 81.0 ppb
98 Woodland Estates Improvement Association Solon IA 80.0 ppb
99 Oxbow Marina (Sws) Isleton CA 78.5 ppb
100 Central Arkansas Water Paron Little Rock AR 78.0 ppb
101 Saco Pines North Conway NH 77.0 ppb
102 George B White Bldg Deerfield NH 77.0 ppb
103 Mountain View Apartments Reinholds PA 76.5 ppb
104 Highwood Highwood IL 76.0 ppb
105 The Gardens At Orangeville Orangeville PA 74.3 ppb
106 Concordia Lutheran Home Cabot PA 74.0 ppb
107 Carver Mobile Ranch Lake Oswego OR 74.0 ppb
108 Agape Family Fellowship Tangent OR 73.3 ppb
109 Monroe County Safety Center Stroudsburg PA 72.8 ppb
110 Mountain View Apts Laconia NH 72.0 ppb
111 Mountain Manor Community East Stroudsburg PA 71.5 ppb
112 Plateau Village Mhp Lititz PA 71.5 ppb
113 Hope Mills, Town Of Hope Mills NC 71.0 ppb
114 Christiana Muni Water Auth Christiana PA 70.0 ppb
115 Log Cabin Court Morgantown PA 69.5 ppb
116 Romola Water Association Port Gibson MS 68.6 ppb
117 Asociacion Vecinos Sector La Casa Corp. Yabucoa PR 68.0 ppb
118 New Freedom Academy Salem NH 67.0 ppb
119 Crotched Mountain School Greenfield NH 66.0 ppb
120 Camelot Iii Derry NH 66.0 ppb
121 Alpine Village Wua Columbia Falls MT 66.0 ppb
122 Edgewood Mobile Home Park Trout Run PA 65.8 ppb
123 Carrisa Plains Elementary Atascadero CA 65.0 ppb
124 Ladd Center Water System North Kingstown RI 64.0 ppb
125 Capri Estates Lakeville PA 63.0 ppb
126 Richmond Totten Yelm WA 62.8 ppb
127 Pelham-Waco Community Pelham GA 62.5 ppb
128 Speedrack Midwest Sparta MI 62.0 ppb
129 Holy Cross Church Nazareth PA 61.0 ppb
130 Us Army Garrison Carlisle PA 60.8 ppb
131 Conewago Twp Elem Sch Hummelstown PA 60.5 ppb
132 Madison Estates Moscow PA 60.0 ppb
133 Sanborn Mem Sch/Seacoast Bldg Kingston NH 60.0 ppb
134 Vi National Guard - Jackson Armory 60.0 ppb
135 Autumn Creek Mhp Valparaiso IN 58.5 ppb
136 Mountain View Village Tannersville PA 58.3 ppb
137 E Penn Mfg Kutztown Innovation Lyon Station PA 57.5 ppb
138 Woodlyn Residences Hamlin PA 56.0 ppb
139 Uscg Support Center New York NY 56.0 ppb
140 Adc - Cummins Unit Maint Grady AR 56.0 ppb
141 Floating Bear Shelton WA 56.0 ppb
142 Andover Village Dist Andover NH 56.0 ppb
143 North Dickinson Elem Sch Carlisle PA 55.3 ppb
144 Deer Lake Citizens Assoc Orwigsburg PA 55.2 ppb
145 Hawthorne Improvement District Valhalla NY 55.2 ppb
146 Wee Wons Scotrun Scotrun PA 54.5 ppb
147 Icmsa Arcadia Indiana PA 54.5 ppb
148 Christian Life Assembly Stroudsburg PA 54.5 ppb
149 Faith Mennonite High Sch Kinzers PA 54.5 ppb
150 Asociacion De Residentes Villa Vigia Caguas PR 54.0 ppb
151 Havasu Wc Havasu Lake CA 54.0 ppb
152 Lake Merwin Campers Hideaway Sys 1 Woodland WA 53.5 ppb
153 Saint Tikhons Seminary South Canaan PA 53.0 ppb
154 Supermetal Holdings Usa (4630003) Rock Hill SC 53.0 ppb
155 Elgin Elgin IL 53.0 ppb
156 Woodland Hills Lakeville PA 53.0 ppb
157 Soda Brook Northfield NH 53.0 ppb
158 Beacon Light Behavioral Health Towanda PA 52.6 ppb
159 Penns Valley Medical Center Spring Mills PA 52.5 ppb
160 Evergreen Village Mhp Camp Hill PA 52.5 ppb
161 Exeter Highlands Exeter NH 52.0 ppb
162 Miracle Bethel Church Lafayette IN 51.0 ppb
163 Sunset Ridge Rehab Ctr Bloomsburg PA 50.6 ppb
164 Coldwater Canyon 1 Tucson AZ 50.0 ppb
165 Wediko Kitchen Windsor NH 50.0 ppb
166 Certainteed Llc Chowchilla CA 50.0 ppb
167 Defense Distribution East Reg. New Cumberland PA 50.0 ppb
168 High Point Baptist Academy Geigertown PA 50.0 ppb
169 Snow Ridge Village Moscow PA 50.0 ppb
170 Julia Ribaudo Extended Care Lake Ariel PA 49.3 ppb
171 Hemlock Point Greentown PA 49.2 ppb
172 Happy Acres Development Honesdale PA 49.0 ppb
173 Le Roy Leroy IL 49.0 ppb
174 Mount Laurel Resort And Spa White Haven PA 49.0 ppb
175 Pack Creek Water Company Monticello UT 49.0 ppb
176 Sunset Development Comm Club Coupeville WA 48.9 ppb
177 Hess Lake Rv And Mobile Home Park Newaygo MI 48.9 ppb
178 West Greenwich Travel Center Westlake OH 48.7 ppb
179 Perlo Ridge Apts Loysville PA 48.5 ppb
180 Glens Falls City Glens Falls NY 48.0 ppb
181 Southland Hills Mobile Homes Willow Street PA 48.0 ppb
182 Wyoming Cnty Comm Healthcare Tunkhannock PA 48.0 ppb
183 Rosebrook Water Monroe CT 48.0 ppb
184 Pineridge Subdivision Savannah GA 47.0 ppb
185 Keiser Waterworks Keiser AR 47.0 ppb
186 Lupfers Grove Mhp & Cpgrd Shermans Dale PA 47.0 ppb
187 Vallecitos Mdwca Vallecitos NM 47.0 ppb
188 Sandy Hook Water Association Chambersburg PA 46.6 ppb
189 Cranberry Village Mhp Cranberry Twp PA 46.3 ppb
190 Smithfield City Smithfield UT 46.0 ppb
191 Mclane Northeast Contoocook NH 46.0 ppb
192 Lake City Child Development Lake City MI 46.0 ppb
193 Nisky Center 45.0 ppb
194 Maplewood Mobile Home Park Bowmansville PA 45.0 ppb
195 Summit Elementary School Butler PA 45.0 ppb
196 Chateau Resort And Con Center Tannersville PA 44.3 ppb
197 Fern Valley Estates Impr Dist Medford OR 44.2 ppb
198 Echo Valley Mhp North East MD 44.2 ppb
199 L&M Fabrication & Machine Inc Bath PA 44.0 ppb
200 Joyful Noise Learning Center Bow NH 44.0 ppb
201 Northwest Harris County Mud 9 Houston TX 43.8 ppb
202 Holliday Outt Mhp Oklahoma City OK 43.5 ppb
203 Centre Hall Boro Water Dept Centre Hall PA 43.3 ppb
204 Rollinsford Water Sewer Dist Rollinsford NH 43.0 ppb
205 Bay Point Village Condo Osage Beach MO 43.0 ppb
206 Riverside Mobile Home Ct Somerset WI 43.0 ppb
207 Ybec Plainfield Carlisle PA 42.9 ppb
208 Royal Lodge Estates Hoa Midland GA 42.2 ppb
209 East Aurora Village East Aurora NY 42.0 ppb
210 Kinlichee Staff Housing Bia Ganado AZ 42.0 ppb
211 Fort Benjamin Harrison Ft Benjamin Har IN 42.0 ppb
212 Summit Estates Saxonburg PA 42.0 ppb
213 Aqua Pa Water Co Chinchilla I White Haven PA 42.0 ppb
214 Allied Services Corporate Ctr Clarks Summit PA 41.6 ppb
215 Purchase Line South Elem Sch Commodore PA 41.5 ppb
216 Timberline Condominium Association Waitsfield VT 41.3 ppb
217 Liberty Mall Stroudsburg PA 41.0 ppb
218 St Gabriels Hall Audubon PA 41.0 ppb
219 Hospital De La Concepcion San German PR 41.0 ppb
220 Perrysville Water Works Perrysville IN 41.0 ppb
221 Silver Valley Water Imprv Dist Neskowin OR 40.8 ppb
222 National Beef Packing Co Llc Selinsgrove PA 40.0 ppb
223 Pg&W Gardner-Mill Creek Wilkes Barre PA 40.0 ppb
224 Rolling Acres Mhp Great Neck NY 40.0 ppb
225 Pinecrest Village Mhp Havertown PA 40.0 ppb
226 Test Sdwis System Baton Rouge LA 40.0 ppb
227 Oden-Pencil Bluff Water Assn Oden AR 40.0 ppb
228 Quail Run Lacey WA 39.8 ppb
229 Hop River Homes Tolland CT 39.6 ppb
230 Bucholz Mobile Home Park Boerne TX 39.0 ppb
231 Galeton Borough Authority Galeton PA 39.0 ppb
232 Galbraith Estates Strasburg CO 39.0 ppb
233 Wesley United Methodist Church Quarryville PA 39.0 ppb
234 Woodland Est Mobile Homes Coatesville PA 39.0 ppb
235 Washington Inn Bechtelsville PA 38.5 ppb
236 Moraine State Park Water Syst Portersville PA 38.0 ppb
237 Camden Water & Sewer Department Camden AL 38.0 ppb
238 Richfield Square Slinger WI 37.5 ppb
239 Johnsonburg Municipal Auth Johnsonburg PA 37.2 ppb
240 North Country Village Northwood NH 37.0 ppb
241 Hazelwood Water District Portland OR 37.0 ppb
242 Contoocook Village Pct Concord NH 37.0 ppb
243 Ellerbe Town Of Ellerbe NC 37.0 ppb
244 Calvary Baptist School Butler PA 37.0 ppb
245 Lanchester Landfill Honey Brook PA 37.0 ppb
246 Acued. Com. Tortuguero, La Tiza, Inc. Barranquitas PR 37.0 ppb
247 Port Florence Development Hamlin PA 37.0 ppb
248 Waterville Estate Vlg Dist/W Campton NH 37.0 ppb
249 Mineral Point Waterworks Mineral Point WI 37.0 ppb
250 Creekside Manor M H P Moscow PA 36.6 ppb

Terms, explained

Parts per billion (ppb)
A measure of a tiny amount — one part in a billion. For lead, the EPA’s action level is 15 ppb.
Action level
The level (15 ppb for lead) at which a water system must take corrective action. It’s a trigger for action, not a “safe” line — for lead there is no safe level.
90th-percentile
Systems test tap water in a set of homes and report the level that 9 out of 10 of those homes came in at or below. It’s a system-wide screening number, not your specific tap.
Lead & Copper Rule
The EPA rule that requires systems to test homes for lead and copper and act if levels are too high. It’s the source for this study.

Methodology & sources

EPA Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile sample results (most recent monitoring period per system).

Important caveat: Lead usually enters water from corroding household pipes and solder, not the source — so levels can vary tap to tap. The 90th-percentile figure is a system-wide screening value, not your specific tap.

This study draws on 21,807 U.S. public water systems and our full certified-filter database. All EPA data is public domain.

For journalists & researchers

Every figure on this page is free to republish with credit to "Erin Rose, Verified Water Filter Data" and a link — no permission needed (CC BY 4.0). The EPA data behind it is public domain.

Cite this study

Erin Rose, Verified Water Filter Data (July 2026). "Lead in U.S. Tap Water, by State and System." Analysis of EPA public drinking-water and NSF/WQA/IAPMO certification data. https://verifiedwaterfilterdata.com/studies/lead-in-tap-water/

Certification counts (JSON) Full methodology

Need a custom cut — a single state, county, or contaminant? The underlying data supports it; get in touch.

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