Lead in Water
Testing and Filtration Solutions for Safe Drinking Water
Call 0800 278 296 to talk to a water expert
Worried about lead in your water? Do this now
1
Flush your drinking water tap
Each morning, and whenever the house has been empty, run about a cup of water from the cold kitchen tap before you drink or cook with it. Run two cups if you’re pregnant or have young children.
2
Use cold water only
For drinking, cooking and making baby formula. Hot water can pick up more lead from fittings.
3
Don’t rely on boiling
Boiling kills germs, but it doesn’t remove lead.
4
Worried about your health?
If you’re pregnant or have young children, talk to your GP. A blood test is the only way to check lead levels in the body.
5
Get your water tested
Call Aqua Works and we’ll arrange an accredited lab test and find where the lead is coming from.
Do you have lead in your drinking water?
You can’t see, smell or taste lead in water. In New Zealand, lead rarely comes from the water source itself. It usually comes from what the water touches on its way to your glass: older brass taps and fittings, old pipe solder and, on rainwater supplies, the roof, flashings and paint the water runs off.
Most drinking water in New Zealand is slightly corrosive, and rainwater is soft and slightly acidic, so it picks up metals more easily. Water that sits in your pipes overnight collects the most. Lead is one of several contaminants in drinking water we help homeowners deal with.
What is lead in drinking water?
Lead is a toxic heavy metal. It builds up in the body over time, and the World Health Organization says there is no known safe level of lead exposure. Babies, young children and pregnant women are most at risk, because lead affects how the brain and nervous system develop.
Getting your water tested is the only way to know. If lead is found, we fix the source where we can and fit the right filter, such as an under-bench reverse osmosis system.
Understanding the risk of lead in drinking water
How does lead get into water?
Lead dissolves into water from the materials it touches. Common sources in New Zealand homes include:
- Older brass taps, valves and fittings
- Old lead-based solder on copper pipes
- Lead flashings, lead-head nails and old lead-based paint on roofs that collect rainwater
- Water sitting in pipes overnight or while you’re away
Is lead a risk in New Zealand?
The maximum acceptable value for lead in New Zealand drinking water is 0.01 mg/L, set by Taumata Arowai, the drinking water regulator. In 2021, high lead readings in the Waikouaiti water supply near Dunedin led to a do-not-drink notice for local residents. Read more about lead in NZ drinking water.
Since 2 May 2026, new taps and fittings installed for drinking water must be lead free under the Building Code. Older taps and fittings already in homes aren’t covered.
Could your water be affected?
- Do you collect rainwater from an older roof?
- Does your roof have lead flashings or old painted surfaces?
- Are your kitchen taps or fittings old or cheap?
- Does water sit unused in your pipes, like at a bach?
- Are you pregnant, or do you have babies or young children at home?
- Has your water never been tested for lead?
Concerned about lead in your water? Start with testing.
Lead can only be measured with a lab test. We arrange testing through Hill Laboratories in Hamilton, an accredited lab, and show you how to take the sample. For lead, the first water from the tap in the morning gives the clearest picture of what you’re drinking.
What doesn’t work
Lead is a dissolved metal, so many common fixes don’t touch it.
Common approaches that don’t work include:
- Boiling: it kills germs but doesn’t remove lead
- UV filters on their own: they kill germs but don’t remove metals
- Basic sediment filters: they only catch particles
- Assuming clear water is safe: lead has no taste, colour or smell
Fix the source, then filter
The best long-term fix is to remove what’s adding lead to your water, such as old taps, fittings or roof flashings. A filter designed to remove lead at your kitchen tap then protects the water you drink.
Testing first means you choose the right fix, and don’t pay for a system that won’t remove lead.
Health risks associated with lead exposure
Harm to brain and nervous system development in babies and young children
Learning difficulties, lower IQ and behaviour problems in children
Risks in pregnancy, as lead can pass to the unborn baby
Raised blood pressure and a higher risk of heart disease in adults
Kidney damage over time
Anaemia, as lead affects how the body makes blood
Lead builds up in the body over time, mostly in the bones. Cutting long-term exposure through your drinking water matters most for children and pregnant women.
How Aqua Works removes lead from your drinking water
Lead needs a find-the-source and filter approach, not just a single device.
1
Test your water
We arrange an accredited lab test through Hill Laboratories, including lead, so you know exactly what you’re dealing with.
2
Find and fix the source
We check your taps, fittings, pipework, roof and tank to find where the lead is coming from.
As Master Plumbers, we can replace old brass taps and fittings with lead-free ones, and advise on roof and tank fixes.
3
Filter your drinking water
An under-bench reverse osmosis system removes most dissolved lead from drinking water.
An under-bench carbon filter certified for lead reduction can also suit some homes.
4
Service and retest
Filters only work if they’re changed on time.
We keep a record of your system, remind you when it’s due for a service and retest your water when needed.
Safer drinking water starts with the right advice
If you’re worried about lead, don’t guess. Start with a proper test, find the source, and choose a treatment that actually removes lead.
Lead in water FAQs
What is the safe level of lead in drinking water in NZ?
The maximum acceptable value (MAV) for lead in New Zealand drinking water is 0.01 mg/L, the same as the World Health Organization guideline. The WHO says there is no known safe level of lead exposure, so the lower the better.
Can you see, smell or taste lead in water?
No. Water with lead in it usually looks, smells and tastes normal. A lab test is the only way to know.
How does lead get into tank water?
Rainwater is soft and slightly acidic, so it picks up metals from what it touches. On older homes that can include lead flashings, lead-head nails and old lead-based paint on the roof, as well as brass taps and fittings inside the house. Read more about roof materials that can contaminate tank water.
Does boiling water remove lead?
No. Boiling kills bacteria and viruses, but it doesn’t remove lead. Use cold water for drinking and cooking, and treat the water with a filter designed to remove lead.
Will a UV filter remove lead?
No. A UV water filter kills bacteria, viruses and parasites, but it doesn’t remove dissolved metals like lead. Many tank water homes need both: UV for germs and a separate filter for lead.
Should I flush my taps every morning to reduce lead?
Yes. PHF Science (formerly ESR) recommends running about a cup of cold water from your kitchen tap each morning before using it, or two cups if you’re pregnant or have young children. Flush again after the house has been empty, like when you get back to the bach. You can use the flushed water on plants (not food crops).
How do I test my water for lead?
Call us on 0800 278 296. We arrange testing through Hill Laboratories in Hamilton, an accredited lab, and explain how to take the sample. A first-draw sample (the first water from the tap in the morning) shows the highest level you’re likely to drink.
What is the best filter for removing lead from drinking water?
An under-bench reverse osmosis system is one of the most effective ways to remove lead from drinking water. A carbon filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction can also work. The right choice depends on your water test, your plumbing and how much water you use. See the Ecosoft under-bench RO system in our shop. For more background, read our blog post on lead in NZ drinking water.
Are new taps lead free?
Since 2 May 2026, new taps and fittings installed for drinking water in New Zealand must be lead free (no more than 0.25% lead) under the Building Code. Taps and fittings installed before then aren’t covered, so older homes can still have fittings that release lead.