What is the acceptable level of lead in drinking water?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the maximum contaminant level goal for lead in drinking water is zero. This means that there should be no detectable lead in drinking water. However, due to the fact that lead can leach into water from pipes and fixtures, the EPA has set an action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) for lead in drinking water. This means that if a water sample exceeds this level, the water system must take action to reduce the lead levels.