Is There Lead in Charleston Tap Water?
Lead was detected in Charleston, but below the federal action level. The 90th-percentile tap result was 3 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level.
- CHARLESTON · PWSID IL0290100
- Purity Score 94 · Excellent
- Confidence: moderate
- Lead0
- Galvanized, to replace1
- Unknown material5,702
- Not lead1,492
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 Charleston tap water?
CHARLESTON's most recent lead 90th-percentile result (2025) was 3 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level. It comes from sampled homes; your own pipes decide what reaches your tap.
Does Charleston have lead service lines?
In EPA's service line inventory (2026Q2), CHARLESTON reported 0 lead service lines, 1 galvanized lines requiring replacement and 5,702 of unknown material, out of 7,195 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 CHARLESTON 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.