Lead poisoning is dangerous and can have lasting effects on babies and children. The City of Philadelphia encourages residents to have children tested for lead at least twice by age 6. If a child has elevated lead levels, the City may provide help to remove lead from their home.
Lead may be found in the paint and water pipes of some homes and buildings. In most cases, when a child has high lead levels, it comes from lead paint.
None of the City’s water pipes are made from lead, but some homes and buildings may have lead pipes that connect to the City’s water main. In these cases, the City offers a loan program to help people replace lead pipes. Flushing your pipes is a low-cost and easy way to keep lead out of your water at home, even if you have lead pipes.
