REDUCING EXPOSURE TO LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Below are actions that may be taken to reduce exposure to lead. Refer to the “Helpful Resources” section on this page for links to information from the EPA, the NHDES, and the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS).
NOTE: This list is not intended to be exhaustive or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead from drinking water.
Use cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Hot water can cause lead to leach out of pipes and plumbing. Boiling water does NOT remove lead.
Before drinking or cooking, flush the pipes by running the tap. The longer the water has been sitting in the pipes, the more lead it may contain.
Regularly clean the screens (also known as an aerator) on faucets. Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
Consider using a water filter certified to remove lead. There are various types, including water pitchers, faucet-mounted filters, under-sink filters, refrigerator filters, & more. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions as well as the schedule for filter replacement.
Faucets and fixtures installed before 2014 do NOT meet today’s requirements for “lead-free” fixtures. Consider replacing these.
