Free lead test kits for city water

These 22 city water utilities test your tap water for lead at no charge. Most mail a kit to customers who ask.

• Anaheim Public Utilities Free Water Quality and Lead Testing · California
  Who: Anaheim Public Utilities water customers in Orange County, California
• Denver Water Free Lead Test Kit · Colorado
  Who: Denver Water residential customers, single-family and multi-unit, limit one test per household
• Free Lead Test Kit · District of Columbia
  Who: DC Water residential and commercial customers
• Chicago Department of Water Management Free Lead Water Test · Illinois
  Who: Any Chicago resident concerned about lead in their home's water
• Cambridge Water Department Free Tap Water Test for Lead and Copper · Massachusetts
  Who: Residents of Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Free Lead Tap Water Test · Michigan
  Who: Homes with a lead service line, homes where a child has tested positive for an elevated blood lead level, or homes where DWSD is replacing a lead service line
• Grand Rapids Water System Annual Lead and Copper Sampling Program · Michigan
  Who: Grand Rapids water system customers, especially homes that may have a lead service line
• Minneapolis Water Works Free Lead Test Kit · Minnesota
  Who: Minneapolis water utility customers, including multi-family building residents
• Saint Paul Regional Water Services Free Lead Testing · Minnesota
  Who: SPRWS customers, especially homes built before 1926 and some homes built between 1942 and 1947 that may have lead service lines
• Metropolitan Utilities District Free Lead Water Test Kit and Pitcher Program · Nebraska
  Who: M.U.D
• Free Lead in Water Testing Kits for Water Customers · New Hampshire
  Who: Portsmouth water system customers only, concerned about lead from household pipes and fixtures
• Free Lead Testing Kits · New Jersey
  Who: PVWC water customers (Paterson, Clifton, Passaic, and other service area residents) concerned about lead in their drinking water
• ABCWUA Lead Sample Kit Testing · New Mexico
  Who: Testing is only available to Water Authority Customers
• Free Residential Lead Testing Program · New York
  Who: NYC residents on the city public water supply
• Portland Water Bureau Free Lead-in-Water Test Kit · Oregon
  Who: Portland-area residents, licensed childcare providers, and public, private, or charter schools within the Portland Water Bureau service area and participating surrounding water districts (Burlington Water District, City of Tualatin, Lake Grove Water District, Lorna Portland Water, Lusted Water District, Palatine Hill Water District, Pleasant Home Water District, Raleigh Water District, Tualatin Valley Water District, Valley View Water District, West Slope Water District)
• City of Bethlehem Water & Sewer Resources Free Lead and Copper Sampling · Pennsylvania
  Who: Customers whose home or business meets the criteria for the City's lead and copper compliance sampling pool
• Free Lead and Copper Tap Water Test · Pennsylvania
  Who: Available to PWD customers at homes only
• Charleston Water System Free Lead Testing · South Carolina
• Mount Pleasant Waterworks Free Water Test Kit · South Carolina
• Spartanburg Water Free Lead Testing · South Carolina
• Austin Water Free Lead Testing · Texas
  Who: residents of the Austin Water service area concerned about lead in their plumbing or fixtures
• Dallas Water Utilities Free Lead Testing · Texas

Before you order a test

• Read your utility's yearly water quality report. It lists lead results for your system. (EPA)
• Your utility's name and phone number are on your water bill. Ask if it offers a free lead test.
• Not sure if your pipes are lead? How to check.
• On a private well? Find a well test near you.

Not on the list?

Tap Score's mail-in Lead and Copper test is $55 (Tap Score, price checked October 2, 2026).

We earn a small commission from each sale, which helps more people find low-cost water testing.

Programs checked as late as October 2, 2026. Free programs can change who qualifies or stop. Check the utility's page first.