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Lead in Water: A Work in Progress Across America

Lead contamination in drinking water remains one of the most pressing public health issues in the United States. Despite decades of regulation and awareness campaigns, the legacy of lead pipes and industrial contamination continues to pose a significant threat, particularly in older cities and underserved communities. For families across the country, the risks associated with lead in water are clear—we’re not talking about a simple plumbing problem. Lead in water is a complex and expensive public health crisis that demands innovative solutions.

Why Lead Is Dangerous

Lead is a potent neurotoxin that has no safe level of exposure for humans, particularly for the youngest constituents of a community. Even at low levels, lead can cause delays in development, learning disabilities, and behavioral issues in children. Adults are not immune to its effects either, facing risks of decreased kidney function, cardiovascular issues (such as high blood pressure and hypertension), and reproductive problems. The danger of lead lies in its ability to bioaccumulate in the body. Long-term exposure can lead to irreversible health consequences.

Yet, despite this heavy metal’s well-documented dangers, lead contamination persists. The primary causes? Aging infrastructure of lead service lines, outdated plumbing, and the financial and logistical challenges of pipe replacement. Communities disproportionately impacted are often those with limited resources or funding to tackle the problem—a stark reminder of the inequities surrounding environmental health and equity. However, post-Flint, the country is more focused than ever while scaling and supporting programs to deal with lead in water to avoid future large-scale contamination events.

How Lead Gets into Drinking Water

Lead contamination often occurs when water interacts with lead-based plumbing materials. Common sources include:

  • Lead Service Lines: The primary culprits in older water systems, where corrosion releases lead into the water supply.
  • Fixtures and Solder: Older brass faucets and soldered pipes may also leach lead.
  • Industrial Runoff: In some cases, lead contamination stems from industrial activities or environmental legacy pollution.

The most famous recent mass lead contamination incident, the infamous Flint, Michigan, crisis, stemmed from a number of factors, including a sudden change in water supply (that already had a high level of industrial contaminants), failure of water treatment, and, subsequently, lead leaching from pipes and fixtures en masse.

The Scale of the Lead Problem in the USA

Modern estimates maintain there are still upwards of 9 million lead service lines in use across the United States, often in low-income and historically marginalized neighborhoods. These pipes, which can date back to the early 20th century, represent a massive undertaking to remove and replace.

The federal government has allocated billions in funding through the Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan to support lead pipe replacement projects. Yet the sheer scale of the challenge means the undertaking will take years. Still, with newfound federal-level support, municipalities, utilities, and private organizations are working together to expedite the process. It’s here where innovation must be embraced – so that meaningful progress can happen faster (and at less cost).

The Federal Government’s Role in Monitoring for Lead

While no acceptable level of lead should be allowed, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) currently defines an “action level” for lead in drinking water at 15 parts per billion (ppb). It should be noted that this threshold is not a safety standard but a regulatory trigger, requiring utilities to address contamination when exceeded.

The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR), first introduced in 1991, established modern guidelines around the monitoring of lead and copper. Copper levels can often be a precursor to lead contamination as spikes in copper could be a sign of pipe corrosion. Therefore, public water suppliers must monitor copper in drinking water. If +10% percent of tap water samples exceed the EPA copper action level of 1.3 ppm, water systems must use treatment to reduce corrosion.

Since its inception, the Lead and Copper Rule has faced criticism for being insufficiently protective. The most recent updates to the LCR signify a step forward in strengthening protection against lead. The revised rule, implemented in 2021, now mandates the creation of detailed lead service line inventories, enhanced public communication about lead risks, and the requirement to replace lead service lines when lead levels exceed 10 ppb. Recent revisions can be reviewed on the EPA’s fact sheet. The main changes include:

  • Pinpointing further sources of lead in drinking water via testing protocols
  • Establishing a recognized trigger level for faster mitigation
  • Ongoing lead service line replacement
  • School/childcare facilities testing requirements
  • More public awareness at a local level

This more proactive stance and embracing of transparency reflects a growing recognition of the need for stricter lead monitoring.

State and Local Laws Focused on Getting Lead Out of Drinking Water

Beyond extensive federal regulations and substantial funding mechanisms, many state and local governments have adopted their own initiatives and funds to accelerate lead pipe replacement and enhance water testing protocols. Their ongoing efforts underscore the urgency of addressing this longstanding health issue.

Michigan: Lead and Copper Rule (LCR)

Michigan has implemented one of the strictest lead regulations in the country, requiring utilities to replace all lead service lines within 20 years, regardless of lead levels in water. The state lowered its action level to 12 parts per billion (ppb), stricter than the EPA’s 15 ppb, to trigger mandatory action. Utilities must also prioritize high-risk areas and ensure transparent communication with residents about water safety.

New Jersey: Lead Service Line Replacement Mandate

In 2021, New Jersey passed legislation mandating the replacement of all lead service lines in the state within 10 years. The law requires utilities to develop inventories of lead service lines and report annually on replacement progress. New Jersey also set aside over $1 billion in state funding to assist municipalities and utilities with these efforts.

Wisconsin: Lead Service Line Replacement Program

Wisconsin offers grants to municipalities to fund lead pipe replacements, covering the costs for public and private portions of the service lines. Milwaukee has led this effort, with programs focusing on low-income households and prioritizing schools and daycare centers.

Illinois: Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act

In 2021, Illinois passed legislation requiring all public water systems to inventory and replace lead service lines. The act mandates complete lead service line replacement rather than partial replacements. This measure will help avoid the exacerbation of lead exposure.

Washington, D.C.: Lead Pipe Replacement Assistance Program

DC Water offers financial assistance to homeowners replacing lead service lines, including covering up to 100% of costs for low-income households. The city also prioritizes replacement projects in areas with high concentrations of lead pipes or vulnerable populations.

Massachusetts: School Lead Testing Program

Massachusetts launched a proactive school and daycare testing program, requiring routine testing for lead and copper in all public and private schools. The program funds lead fixture replacement, particularly in older school buildings.

New York State: Lead Testing in Schools and Daycares Law

New York was one of the first states to mandate regular testing of drinking water in schools for lead, with a low action level of 5 ppb, aligning with the FDA’s standard for bottled water. When lead levels exceed this threshold, the state requires immediate remediation, including fixture replacement and provision of alternative water sources.

Ohio: Lead Mapping and Replacement Program

Ohio law, enacted in 2016, requires water systems to publicly map all known or suspected lead service lines. The state provides financial assistance for total lead service line replacements and prioritizes projects in communities with the highest lead risks.

California: School Lead Testing Initiative

As of July 2019, California law mandates lead testing in schools and childcare centers and requires water suppliers to assist with fixture replacement where lead levels exceed 5 ppb. The state also funds schools to upgrade drinking water infrastructure and replace lead-containing fixtures.How to Get Lead Out of Water

While lead service lines are often spoken of as the main culprits of lead contamination, the complete removal of lead from drinking water requires a multi-faceted approach:

  • Pipe Replacement: Replacing lead service lines remains the gold standard. This can be a complex and expensive endeavor. However, federal, state and local funding is paving the way for faster lead line replacement. Programs like the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) guide communities in practical measures to further accelerate pipe replacement.
  • Advanced Corrosion Control: Utilities can reduce lead leaching by optimizing water chemistry, although this is a stopgap measure.
  • Innovative Technology: Modern innovations are leading the charge in developing solutions that streamline lead detection, monitoring, and response. EPIC, for example, has a helpful Menu of Options to help direct communities to technologically-proven methods.

However, to understand where lead is prevalent, communities must be vigilant about monitoring so that lead contamination events can be caught early and remediated quickly. And, when communities focus on monitoring for lead, the solutions they adopt must be accurate, reliable, and ongoing. In other words, fast, trusted monitoring must be a top priority.

How KETOS Is Making an Impact

KETOS stands at the forefront of water monitoring technology, offering utilities, industries, and municipalities a comprehensive solution for lead detection and water quality management.

KETOS separates itself from standard monitoring solutions in various meaningful ways, including:

  1. Comprehensive Monitoring: The KETOS SHIELD system goes beyond lead, analyzing 35+ parameters in real-time, including heavy metals, nitrates, and pH levels. This eliminates the need for separate testing equipment and reduces operational complexity. If regulations or thresholds change, KETOS can adjust with ease to monitor for new parameters and thresholds on the fly.
  2. Automation and Alerts: KETOS automates water quality monitoring and provides organizations with the ability to set their own threshold alerts. So, if threshold regulatory standards ever change, operators can simply adjust the KETOS threshold vaue to match new requirements. Automated testing and alerting ensue regular monitoring intervals for increased visibility into the overall health of water.
  3. Cost-Efficiency: With KETOS, organizations save on manual labor and testing overhead while gaining a scalable solution for ongoing monitoring. Utilities no longer need to worry about expensive third-party lab invoices, up-front infrastructure upgrades, or budgeting for equipment obsolescence and replacement.
  4. Data-Driven Insights: Water operators can track water quality over time to show where and when contaminant spikes occur. This can help them become more predictive and prescriptive and, over time, ultimately use fewer chemicals, understand infrastructure maintenance trends, and act proactively and reactively to their water supplies.

KETOS is about identifying problems and empowering stakeholders with actionable insights to improve water quality and protect public health. By providing both robust monitoring and scalable solutions, KETOS is helping communities move beyond compliance to achieve faithful water stewardship.

We’re Already on the Front Lines of Lead Removal

In 2024, EPIC released its Menu of Options Report to share some service providers the organization encountered that offer data tools and technologies to public water utilities. KETOS was one of those service providers. The goal of the Menu of Options was to provide water operators in the public utility market with available service providers that can help detect and remove lead from local water supplies.

KETOS doesn’t just work with utilities. KETOS devices are used across industries concerned about heavy metal contamination, including industrial, food and beverage, agriculture, and more.

Lead in Drinking Water is a Problem We Can Solve

Lead in water is a solvable crisis but requires bold action, innovative technology, and a commitment to equity. With advanced monitoring systems like KETOS SHIELD, the path to safer drinking water is clearer than ever. Together with partners like EPIC and forward-thinking municipalities, KETOS is helping to accelerate the removal of lead from our water systems—ensuring a healthier future for all.

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