Lead is a dangerous environmental pollutant.  Historically lead has been most commonly encountered in lead paint, and in soil contamination resulting from the use of lead as a gasoline additive.  The ingestion of lead and the resulting increase in blood lead level has been proven to cause neurological damage, especially in children.

Water that travels through lead pipes on it's way to your home, may have increased levels of dissolved lead.  The amount of lead is dependent on many variables including pH and temperature of the water.  If your home is older than 50 years, or if you know that any part of the plumbing system is made of lead, it is very highly recommended that you have your water tested for lead levels.  If lead is detected the most common way to remove it from a residential drinking water supply is to use a reverse osmosis system.  A reverse osmosis system forces water through a membrane with microscopic pores.  Only pure water is small enough to pass through these pores.  All other contaminants are sent to drain.  When searching for a reverse osmosis system for removing lead be sure to seek out certified products that show lead as one of the contaminants the system has been certifed to remove.  There are several other home water filters that can remove lead also.