Lead in Drinking Water: Should You Worry About Old Pipes?

In Australia, lead in drinking water usually comes from your own plumbing — brass fittings and old solder — not the mains supply. The risk for most homes is low, but because there’s no completely safe level of lead, simple habits like flushing the tap each morning, plus a quality filter, are easy ways to reduce exposure.

Where does lead in tap water come from?

Treated mains water leaves the plant essentially lead-free. Lead is picked up afterwards, inside household plumbing:

• Brass fittings and tapware, which in Australia have historically been allowed to contain several percent lead.
• Lead-based solder on older copper pipes (no longer permitted for new work).

Lead leaches most when water sits in contact with these fittings for hours — overnight or while you’re away.

How big is the risk in Australia?

Australian authorities note that elevated blood-lead levels are rarely linked to drinking water here, and there’s no evidence of widespread harm from lead in tap water. But lead is cumulative and there’s no safe threshold, so reducing avoidable exposure is sensible — especially for pregnant women and young children.

Standards are tightening, too: from 1 May 2026, copper-alloy plumbing products with more than 0.25% lead are no longer authorised for new drinking-water plumbing, following a transition managed by the Australian Building Codes Board.

Simple ways to reduce lead exposure

1. Flush the tap. Run the cold tap for about 30 seconds each morning (2–3 minutes after holidays) to clear water that’s sat against fittings overnight.
2. Use cold water for drinking and cooking. Hot water dissolves lead more readily.
3. Fit a filter that helps reduce lead and other trace metals.

Where a tap filter fits in

Filtering is optional rather than essential for safety on Australian mains water. If you do want to cut chlorine taste, sediment and microplastics, a point-of-use activated-carbon filter is one simple, low-cost option. PureFlow is one such tap-mounted filter, but the right choice depends on your water and your household — it is worth comparing the options and deciding what suits you.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I have lead in my water?
You can’t taste or see it — the only way to be sure is a water test. Older homes with brass fittings are higher-risk.

Does boiling remove lead?
No — boiling can slightly concentrate it. Use a certified filter instead. See does boiling make water safer.

Is lead the same as PFAS?
No — they’re different contaminants. Read about PFAS in Australian water.