Lead is a soft, malleable metal that was once used in items from gasoline to paint. Due to its adverse health effects, the federal government began limiting its use in the 1980s.

The water that Gwinnett Water provides to homes and businesses does not contain lead. However, lead can get into the water as it moves through household pipes and fixtures that contain lead or lead solder.

The 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act banned the use of lead service lines and lead solder for the installation or repair of any public water system or any private plumbing that provides water for human consumption. Most water systems stopped using lead much earlier. Gwinnett’s water system began in the 1950s, when most utilities were no longer using lead pipes.

Gwinnett County replaces 10,000 water meters each year. During the replacement process, staff checks the service lines for lead. Additionally, Gwinnett County has interviewed private, third-party plumbers about their experience with lead in Gwinnett. Through this research and field work, we have determined that there are no lead service lines in Gwinnett County.

Lead can cause serious health problems if too much is consumed through drinking water or other sources. It has been shown to cause damage to organs and can interfere with the production of red blood cells. Children, infants, and pregnant women are at the greatest risk from lead exposure. Exposure could cause brain damage, stunted growth, hypertension, anemia, and more.

There is no known safe level of lead in a human body, however the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has set a “threshold of concern” at 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (µg/dL).

The Water Resources Laboratory monitors many parameters of water quality continuously as water enters the distribution system. The lab also performs water quality parameter testing quarterly at ten sites around the county and both drinking water plants.

Corrosion (the dissolving or erosion of metals) control measures are put in place to protect the water as well. Phosphate, which is a naturally occurring mineral that can also be found in many food sources, is added to the water. The phosphate coats the pipes, providing a protective barrier. This helps protect the water from potential exposure to lead in private, or in-home plumbing.

Although lead soldering of copper water pipes was banned in Georgia in 1986, some homes may still contain these plumbing systems. Per federal regulation, we test locations with these “at-risk” plumbing systems

Yes, the EPA regulates lead through the Lead and Copper Rule section of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The rule requires utilities to test tap water from a sampling of homes in the county. Lead levels should be below 15 parts per billion (ppb) for 90 percent of the samples tested. Water from Gwinnett County DWR has consistently met this EPA standard for more than 20 years.

Per federal regulations, we test homes located throughout the county to ensure that our corrosion control is effective. You can find the most up-to-date testing information in our Water Quality Report. When testing for lead, 90 percent of all samples tested must be less than the 15 ppb action level. This means that out of every 10 homes sampled, nine must be at or below this level. Because our lead levels have remained consistently low, we are only required by EPA to conduct lead sampling once every three years.

We take every precautionary step to reduce the corrosiveness of the water during the treatment process to minimize lead leaching into drinking water. And because many of the homes in Gwinnett County are newer, we have fewer homes that could have lead plumbing or lead-based solder than other communities. The following homes may be more at risk of having lead in their plumbing:

Homes built before 1970 have a greater chance of having partial lead plumbing.
Homes build prior to 1987 may have lead solder connecting copper pipes.
Homes built after 1985 are significantly less likely to have a significant amount of lead in the plumbing.
Homes built after 2014 have almost zero chance of containing lead, as even the brass fittings used in these dwellings are required to meet stringent lead requirements.

If you are concerned that your plumbing may contain lead, there are two local and certified labs that can test for the presence and concentration of lead. The test for lead ranges from $15 to $40, depending on the number of samples submitted. Please contact your chosen lab for more information and proper sample collection protocol.
Analytical Environmental Services, Chamblee 770.457.8177
Analytical Services, Inc., Norcross 770.734.4200

Contact a licensed plumber to determine if the pipe in your home is made from lead.

If you have lead solder or other lead sources in your home plumbing, here are some steps you can take to further reduce lead:

If water has been sitting in your pipes for an extended period of time (more than six hours), flush the line by letting the cold water faucet run for one to two minutes before using the water for drinking or cooking.
Only use cold water for cooking and drinking. Lead leaches more easily into hot water.
Clean out the aerators, or screens on the faucet, periodically. Over an extended period of time, these screens can trap sediment and debris. They twist off easily and can be cleaned or replaced, if needed.
Use a filter certified to remove lead (look for NSF Standard 53) for drinking, cooking and making infant formula. Replace the filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Boiling water does not remove lead.