Lead in U.S. Drinking Water
Health-based violation data for Lead from EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Covers all community water systems with violations on record.
Lead has been found in violation of EPA standards in 99 water systems across 9 states, with 153 total health-based violations recorded. The most affected states are New York, Florida, California.
Lead is regulated under the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act, which sets enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and associated treatment technique requirements for public water systems. The EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) tracks every recorded violation nationwide and links it back to the specific public water system (PWSID), violation type, and begin date.
Across the United States, PlainEnviro's joined extract contains 153 health-based violation records carrying Lead (EPA code 1030) across 99 active community water systems in 9 states. Raw record counts are highest in New York, Florida, California, with New York accounting for 63 records across 39 systems. Health-effect prose is shown only when the official ECHO substance name matches a verified topic; otherwise the portal stays silent rather than inventing guidance.
A health-based violation does not mean residents were necessarily harmed, it means the contaminant exceeded the federal MCL in a compliance sample, triggering notification and remediation requirements. States and utilities maintain primary enforcement responsibility. To check the status of a specific water system, request its most recent Consumer Confidence Report or consult the EPA's Drinking Water Watch portal for the corresponding state.
Violations by State
States ranked by number of health-based violations for Lead.
| # | State | Violations | Systems Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 63 | 39 |
| 2 | Florida | 9 | 3 |
| 3 | California | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | Maryland | 4 | 1 |
| 5 | Alabama | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | Alaska | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Connecticut | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | New Mexico | 1 | 1 |
Most Affected Water Systems
Top 50 water systems by number of Lead health-based violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lead in my water?
Lead has been detected in violation of EPA health standards in 99 water systems across 9 states. To check your specific utility, look up your annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - water systems are required to disclose all violations.
How many water systems have Lead violations?
EPA SDWIS records show 99 community water systems with health-based Lead violations, totaling 153 violations. These represent cases where the contaminant exceeded the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).
Which states have the most Lead violations?
The states with the most Lead violations are: New York (63 violations), Florida (9 violations), California (5 violations), Maryland (4 violations), Alabama (2 violations).
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About This Data
Violation data is from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Only health-based violations are shown, these include Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and Treatment Technique (TT) violations. Monitoring and reporting violations are excluded. Data may not reflect the most current enforcement actions.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SDWIS Federal Reporting Services
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.