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Lead and Copper in Water

If you need information about lead in drinking water or lead service replacement, you can:

Madison Water Utility: (608) 264-LEAD (5323)
Madison and Dane County Public Health:
(608) 266-4821
email: water@cityofmadison.com

EPA SAFE DRINKING WATER HOTLINE:
1-800-426-4791

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Madison's ground water supply does not contain significant amounts of naturally occurring lead or copper. The naturally corrosive nature of water, however, can dissolve or corrode lead and copper through contact with water service lines, interior pipes and plumbing fixtures.

Lead in drinking water can cause a variety of adverse health effects:

  • In babies and children, exposure to lead in drinking water above the action level can result in delays in physical and mental development, along with deficits in attention span and learning abilities.
  • In adults, kidney problems or high blood pressure could result if water with high levels of lead is ingested over a long period of time. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that the levels of lead and copper in drinking water be limited.

If you don't know whether your tap water contains lead you should have the water tested by a certified lab. Proper sampling is required to obtain a valid result. (Note: A single test for lead level in drinking water may not be representative of the level at all times or of the average level over time.) You can contact the one of the following certified laboratories to get lead sampling procedure information:

  • State Lab of Hygiene, 2601 Agriculture Drive, Madison, WI 53707, Call (608)224-6202
  • Public Health of Madison and Dane County, 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Madison, WI 53709, call (608)266-4821
Lead in Water Relevant Links


Lead Education


Fact Sheets