What is Lead and how is it used?
Lead is a metal found in natural deposits as ores containing other elements. It is sometimes used in household plumbing materials or in water service lines used to bring water from the main to the home.

Do faucets have lead?
Most faucets purchased prior to 1997 were constructed of brass or chrome-plated brass containing up to 8 percent lead (the main metals in brass are copper and zinc). Water sitting overnight (or for several hours) in a brass faucet tends to leach lead from the brass faucet interior which may produce relatively high lead levels in the first draw of drinking water. Due to recent regulations, most faucets purchased after 1997 contain less lead than previously used thereby lessening the potential health risks from the first-draw of water. Lead is a potential health concern, especially for children and pregnant women, since it can build up in the body and cause damage to the brain, red blood cells, and kidneys.

Get a lead free-faucet
As part of our effort to reduce lead contamination from drinking water, the SFPUC will be selling lead-free faucets for $10. This is a great opportunty to get a lead-free faucet at a substantially reduced price.

The requirements of the program are:

1. Your property must be located in the City and County of San Francisco and have a valid mailing address;
2. You are limited to one faucet per household; 
3. You must be replacing a deck-mounted unit (our deck-mounted unit is pictured on this page); 
4. When you pick up your new faucet, you must submit an AGREEMENT FORM that has been signed by the property owner along with $10 payment.

Click here to complete an online application today. After you complete and submit the application, we will send you email with further instructions.