NRDC Map Shows Populations With Lead Contamination in Tap Water.
A new map from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) highlights U.S. populations with higher levels of lead in drinking water.
The map builds on recently released data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that revealed millions of people in the U.S. had lead in their water systems for at least some of the period of 2021 through 2024.
According to the EPA data, more than 250 million people had water systems with lead detected at or above 1 part per billion (ppb), the maximum level of exposure for children as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. More than 112 million people’s water systems had lead levels over 5 ppb, the maximum level allowed in bottle water.
