Is There Lead in Bottled Water?

Single-use bottled water is often seen as a convenient, dependable choice, but it’s natural to have questions about what’s actually inside. One common concern is whether bottled water ever contains lead.

The short answer? There may be trace amounts of lead in bottled water — but strict regulations typically help keep these levels low and safe for consumption.

In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets and enforces standards for bottled water safety. Canada applies similar safeguards for lead in drinking water through Health Canada.

In this blog, we’ll explore how lead can enter bottled water and what the regulations and testing requirements look like. We’ll also cover your options if you want more visibility and control over your home’s drinking water.

Lead Exposure in Bottled Water: Regulations and Risks

Most people associate lead concerns with old plumbing or municipal systems, not sealed water bottles from the store. But while bottled water is regulated as a packaged food product, it’s not immune to quality concerns. So what guidelines are in place to protect bottled water?

In the United States, the FDA oversees bottled water safety. According to the FDA’s bottled water standards, the maximum allowable level of lead in bottled water is 5 parts per billion (ppb) — lower than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s standard for municipal tap water, which is 15 ppb for enforcement but 0 ppb as the goal (also called the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, or MCLG)​.

The FDA regularly reviews and updates bottled water standards, and manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their products comply.

In Canada, Health Canada’s guidelines for lead in drinking water currently cap lead levels at 5 micrograms per liter (µg/L), which is equivalent to 5 ppb. Canadian standards are non-enforceable, national guidelines, but most provinces and territories use them as the basis for local regulation.

Does Bottled Water Contain Lead?

Bottled water is often perceived as a pristine alternative to tap water, but studies reveal that trace amounts of lead can still make their way into some products. Research from Environmental International detected lead in 17% of the tested bottled water brands, with concentrations up to 1.1 µg/L. Though these levels fall below the 5 µg/L limit set by the U.S. FDA and Health Canada, the study notes they do exceed the American Academy of Pediatrics’ suggested limit of 1 µg/L.

How Does Lead Enter Bottled Water?

While bottled water is typically sourced from natural springs or purified municipal supplies, lead contamination can occur at multiple stages of production. Unlike tap water, where lead often originates from aging household plumbing or lead pipes, the risk for bottled water stems from manufacturing, packaging or storage processes. Here’s how:

• Source Water Variability: Spring water sources, while marketed as “natural,” are not always free of contaminants. For instance, the study earlier noted that natural groundwater sources may contain trace metals like lead due to regional geology or environmental contamination. Filtered water brands, which often use advanced water treatment methods like reverse osmosis (RO), had fewer detections, underscoring the role of proper filtration.
• Production Equipment & Plumbing: Bottling facilities rely on industrial equipment, including pipes, valves and filtration systems. If these components contain lead solder or corroded plumbing fixtures, trace amounts of lead can leach into the water during processing. For example, older machinery or poorly maintained systems may introduce contaminants, even in facilities adhering to water quality standards.
• Packaging Materials: Plastic bottles or caps sometimes contain low levels of lead as a stabilizer or from recycled materials. Over time, especially when exposed to heat or sunlight, these materials can degrade, allowing lead to migrate into the water.

Does Tap Water Have Lead?

Yes, tap water can contain lead — but that doesn’t necessarily mean your water does. While bottled water undergoes rigorous oversight in the U.S. and Canada, tap water safety depends on a combination of municipal treatment and infrastructure integrity.

Where Does Lead in Tap Water Come From?

The most common source of lead in drinking water is older plumbing. That includes lead pipes, lead solder used in copper pipes, and brass fixtures containing lead. When water sits in these pipes for long periods — especially warm or corrosive water — it can absorb small amounts of lead. Over time, that exposure adds up.

It’s important to note that even a properly treated public water supply can carry lead if it passes through contaminated plumbing. This means lead can enter tap water as it travels from the water main to your faucet.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), lead exposure is particularly common in homes built before 1986, when lead service lines and solder were still widely used. While lead pipes are no longer installed, many older systems still rely on them, especially in cities with aging infrastructure.

Is Lead in Tap Water Regulated?

Yes, but the rules for tap water differ from those for bottled water. For instance, the Lead and Copper Rule gives the U.S. EPA the authority to regulate contaminants like lead in public water systems. Under these rules, the EPA set an MCLG for lead at 0 ppb — meaning no amount of lead is considered truly safe. However, the current action level is 15 ppb, which is the threshold where water utilities must take action to reduce lead levels and notify the public.

In contrast, the U.S. FDA has stricter standards for bottled water because it’s classified as a packaged food product.

In Canada, lead guidelines for drinking water are issued by Health Canada, which recommends a maximum of 5 µg/L.

It’s important to understand that the role of city water treatment plants is to treat and disinfect water before it enters the distribution system. If the contamination occurs after the water leaves the plant — say, through aging lead pipes in a home — then the responsibility for addressing it falls on the homeowner.

Signs of Lead in Tap Water

Lead is colorless, odorless and tasteless, which makes it nearly impossible to detect without testing. However, certain factors may make your water more susceptible to potential lead issues:

• Your home was built before 1986
• You have galvanized or visibly corroded pipes
• You recently had plumbing work done and it hasn’t been flushed properly

The only way to confirm the presence of lead is through professional testing. That’s why Culligan offers lab-certified water tests to identify lead so you can take informed action.

How To Treat Drinking Water for Lead

If you’re concerned about lead in your household plumbing or tap water supply, the good news is that there are effective solutions. One of the most trusted and widely used options is a reverse osmosis system — a water filtration method proven to reduce lead levels in drinking water. These systems work by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane, along with additional stages of filtration that can effectively capture contaminants like lead, arsenic, nitrates and other chemicals, while improving overall water quality.

Culligan’s Aquasential® Smart RO Drinking Water Filtration System goes a step further by providing real-time insights into your water usage and filter performance. It’s an ideal choice for those looking to reduce their exposure to harmful substances and enjoy cleaner, better-tasting water every day.

To get started, your first step should be professional water testing. Culligan offers a free, in-home water test as well as additional optional lab analysis to identify lead and other possible contaminants. We’ll walk you through the results and next steps with no obligation.

Get The Facts About Your Water

Knowing what’s in your bottled water is important — but with tap water, you have the added advantage of being able to test and treat the source directly. Whether you’re dealing with lead, hard water or other water quality concerns, Culligan has the tools and expertise to help you take control of your home’s safe drinking water.

Take the first step toward cleaner, safer water by scheduling your free, in-home water test and consultation today.

 

*Contaminants may not be present in your water.