Lead in Water in Pennsylvania Homes

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), originally passed by Congress in 1974, was motivated by growing concerns over public health and the quality of the nation’s drinking water. By the early 1970s, studies and media reports revealed widespread contamination of public water supplies with chemicals, microorganisms, and heavy metals such as lead, posing serious health risks. Outbreaks of waterborne diseases and documented cases of poisoning highlighted the need for federal oversight. The SDWA was designed to establish uniform national standards for drinking water quality, authorize the EPA to enforce those standards, and empower states to manage and regulate public water systems. The overarching goal was to protect Americans from harmful contaminants in their water, prevent disease, and ensure safe, reliable drinking water nationwide.

Under the SDWA, states were granted “primacy,” allowing them to administer their own drinking water programs as long as they met or exceeded federal standards. This autonomy meant that states could adopt regulations at their own pace, leading to variability in the timing of implementing certain provisions, such as the lead ban in Pennsylvania which was announced in 1989 and took effect in 1991. 

Lead in Plumbing in Pennsylvania Homes – What You Should Know

• Homes Built Before 1989: Likely contain lead in copper or brass pipe fittings. Water quality testing is not part of a standard inspection, but we can assist you with professional Water Quality testing to determine if lead is present.

• Homes Built 1989–1991: May contain lead, since this was during the phase-out of lead solder. We can assist you with testing to confirm if lead is present in the plumbing.

• Homes Built After 1991, or Fully Remodeled: Plumbing using only new copper, PEX, or CPVC is not expected to contain lead.

This is a publication by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection about its regulation on lead in drinking water: Pennsylvania Lead Ban in Water