The checklist

  1. Service line. Find out what the pipe from the street is made of. The City of Joliet's service line map lists 306 lead and 4,159 "unknown – assumed lead" service lines out of 49,262 addresses; 44,674 are listed as copper or another non-lead material. EPA's Protect Your Tap guide shows how to check at the meter.
  2. Solder and pipes inside. Copper pipes joined before 1986 may use lead solder. A licensed plumber can tell you what you have.
  3. Faucets and fixtures. Older brass or chrome-plated brass faucets can add lead. Clean aerators every few months; consider replacing very old kitchen faucets with certified lead-free ones.
  4. Test the kitchen tap. Use an Illinois EPA accredited lab. How to test.
  5. Water heater. Check the setting — CDC guidance points to at least 120°F to limit Legionella — and flush it on the maker's schedule.
  6. Hardness. Crusty faucets and spotty glasses mean hard water. A softener helps with that — not with lead.
  7. Drinking water plan. Until you know, use cold water, run the tap after it sits, and consider a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead.

Want help sorting it out? Our free Joliet water report starts with what public records say about your address — no home visit needed.

Quick questions

Do all older homes have lead?

No. But EPA says lead pipes are more likely in homes built before 1986, and brass faucets and lead solder are the most common sources in homes without a lead service line. Testing is the only way to know.

Sources

  1. City of Joliet water service line material map (retrieved September 27, 2026) — City of Joliet
  2. City of Joliet 2025 Drinking Water Quality Report (published June 2026) — City of Joliet
  3. Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water — U.S. EPA
  4. Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead — U.S. EPA
  5. Lead in Water — Illinois Department of Public Health
  6. Vacation Rental Owners and Managers (Legionella control) — CDC

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Joliet Water Filtration is an independent business and is not affiliated with the City of Joliet. Product certifications are model-specific and can change; check the current listing before you buy.