Is There Lead in Boston Tap Water?
Lead was detected in Boston, but below the federal action level. The 90th-percentile tap result was 5.8 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level.
- BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) · PWSID MA3035000
- Purity Score 74 · Fair
- Confidence: high
- Lead2,184
- Galvanized, to replace265
- Unknown material4,180
- Not lead93,316
Plumbing inside a home can add lead the record can’t show.
A tap test tells you what reaches your glass. If lead is a concern, these carry a lead reduction claim:
- NSF/ANSI 53Lead-certified filtersPitcher, faucet or under-sink. Check that lead is named.
- NSF/ANSI 58Reverse osmosisUnder-sink membrane systems certified for lead.
- At the sourceService line replacementAsk the utility about your line’s material.
- Side by sideCompare treatmentFormats, maintenance and limits for each method.
Test your own tap
Screening tells you if something is worth a closer look; a lab result is the number you can act on.
As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Screening: quick check, not lab-grade
Safe Home DIY Lead in Drinking Water Combo Test Kit
Safe Home (EnviroTestKits)
Lead, read as one of three ranges: 0–4, 5–15 or 15+ ppb
- Turnaround: 5 minutes
What it can't tell you: It shows a lead range, not an exact level, and tests nothing else unless you pay extra for the optional lab test.
Lab-certified results
ETR Labs Basic Water Quality Test Kit
ETR Laboratories
50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria
- Analyzed by Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories (ETR Labs), Leominster, MA · ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ANAB certificate AT-2638
- Turnaround: 2–4 business days after the lab receives it
What it can't tell you: It does not test PFAS, and not every result on the panel falls under the lab's accredited scope.
Certified for lead, the concern found here
Each product has a current certification record covering lead.
As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. A product appears here only when a current certification record covers at least one identified concern; every concern stays listed. The retail offer is looked up afterwards and never changes which products appear or their order. Affiliate disclosure.
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M)
Certified · NSF/ANSI 53 · Lead
Not for: treating every tap in the home, a whole-home hard-water or scale problem and 3 more
Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2)
Certified · NSF/ANSI 53 · Lead
Not for: treating every tap in the home, a whole-home hard-water or scale problem and 1 more
AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000)
Certified · NSF/ANSI 58 · Lead
Not for: treating every tap in the home, a whole-home hard-water or scale problem and 1 more
Culligan ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher (ZEROP10)
Certified · NSF/ANSI 53 · Lead
Not for: treating every tap in the home, a whole-home hard-water or scale problem and 1 more
Faucet-Mount Filter
Certified · NSF/ANSI 53 · Lead
Not for: treating every tap in the home, a whole-home hard-water or scale problem and 1 more
Under-Sink Carbon Block Filter
Certified · NSF/ANSI 53 · Lead
Not for: treating every tap in the home, a whole-home hard-water or scale problem and 2 more
Under-Sink Reverse-Osmosis System
Certified · NSF/ANSI 58 · Lead
Not for: treating every tap in the home, a whole-home hard-water or scale problem and 3 more
Waterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System
Certified · NSF/ANSI 58 · Lead
Not for: treating every tap in the home, a whole-home hard-water or scale problem and 3 more
Whirlpool Filter 3 Refrigerator Water Filter (WHR3RXD1)
Certified · NSF/ANSI 53 · Lead
Not for: treating every tap in the home, a whole-home hard-water or scale problem and 1 more
- Other products, not matched to lead:
- Brita Elite Water Filter Pitcher
- Clearly Filtered Pitcher (lab-tested, not NSF 53 certified)
- Countertop Gravity Filter
Frequently asked
Is there lead in Boston tap water?
BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA)'s most recent lead 90th-percentile result (2026) was 5.8 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level. It comes from sampled homes; your own pipes decide what reaches your tap.
Does Boston have lead service lines?
In EPA's service line inventory (2026Q2), BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) reported 2,184 lead service lines, 265 galvanized lines requiring replacement and 4,180 of unknown material, out of 99,945 lines in total. Unknown lines have not yet been identified and may include lead.
How do I know if my home has a lead service line?
Ask BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION (MWRA) whether your address appears in its service line inventory, which utilities must publish. You can also look where the water pipe enters your home: lead pipe is dull grey, soft, and shows shiny metal when scratched gently.
How do I reduce lead in my water?
Run the cold tap for a few minutes after water has sat for hours, use only cold water for drinking and cooking, and use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction. Replacing a lead service line removes the main source.