A global initiative towards making all drinking water lead-free by 2040

Nothing is more fundamental to human health and well-being than access to safe drinking water.

In 2016, world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 6 – a universal call to action to provide access to safe and affordable drinking water to every person, everywhere, by 2030.

As part of our global commitment to provide water that is free from microbial hazards and priority chemical contaminants that impact human health, we launch this global initiative to work towards lead-free drinking water by 2040.

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A bucket of water being filled by an outdoor faucet
Will you be joining us at the UN Water 2023 conference in New York?

Join the Governments of Ghana, South Africa, and Uganda, and a large consortium of government, academic, multilateral, and private sector partners at our official UN Water 2023 conference side event in launching a global initiative towards making all drinking water lead-free by 2040.

UN + global lead-free water logos
WHEN
March 23, 2023
11:00am – 12:15pm
where
Conference Room #8
UN Headquarters, New York
WATCH video
event agenda
Man installing a new water pump with 3 children watching on.
A man installing a water pump.
What’s at stake?

Lead is an invisible, odorless and tasteless chemical contaminant present in water supply systems worldwide. The primary source of lead in many systems is lead-containing pipes and parts that leach lead into the water.

No safe level of lead exposure has been identified. Lead is a toxin that irreversibly impacts neurological and cognitive development. Acute or chronic childhood exposure to lead causes lifelong harm. Exposure of pregnant women to high levels of lead can cause fetal deaths and developmental abnormalities. Yet today environmental exposures to lead remains a significant global challenge.

Globally, 800 million, or roughly 1 in 3, children have elevated levels of lead in their blood.

There is an urgent need to reduce human exposure to lead in the environment, including to lead in drinking water – a source of exposure that is wholly preventable. Children, in particular, must be able to grow in a lead-free environment. The Lead-Free Water Pledge aims to build momentum around local and global initiatives to progressively reduce exposure to lead from drinking water and protect public health. Our goal is to work collectively towards preventing lead-leaching from new drinking water systems by 2030 and to make all drinking water lead free by 2040.

Founding partners

Government and Intergovernmental Organizations
Ghana
Ghana
South Africa
South Africa
Uganda
Uganda
UNICEF
UNICEF
World Health Organization
World Health Organization
Non-Governmental Organizations
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
IWSH
Int’l Assoc. of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials
The International Water Association
LIXIL
Millennium Water Alliance
RTI International
Rural Water Supply Network
UNC Water Institute
University of Leeds
WaterAid
World Plumbing Council
World Vision

Resources

Resources on addressing lead in drinking water.
Lead in drinking-water: Health risks, monitoring and corrective actions
World Health Organization
Lead in drinking-water: Health risks, monitoring and corrective actions
read
Children’s Exposure to Lead Pollution Undermines a Generation of Future Potential
UNICEF
Children’s Exposure to Lead Pollution Undermines a Generation of Future Potential
read
Occurrence of Lead and Other Toxic Metals Derived from Drinking-Water Systems in Three West African Countries
EHP
Occurrence of Lead and Other Toxic Metals Derived from Drinking-Water Systems in Three West African Countries
read
Prevention of Childhood Lead Toxicity
PEDIATRICS
Prevention of Childhood Lead Toxicity
read
No-cost and low-cost solutions to eliminate lead at the tap in drinking and cooking water
RTI
No-cost and low-cost solutions to eliminate lead at the tap in drinking and cooking water
read
Preventing another lead in drinking water crisis: Lessons from the D.C. and Flint contamination events
Virginia Tech
Preventing another lead in drinking water crisis: Lessons from the D.C. and Flint contamination events
read

Join the pledge!

Use this form to express your country’s or organizational interest in becoming a Partner on the Pledge (our team will follow-up with you).
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read the pledge
This website is managed by the UNC Water Institute on behalf of the informal Toxic Metals Working Group. The contents of this website do not necessarily reflect the positions of the individual partner countries and organizations. Within the context of the World Health Organization’s work on water quality and safety, the WHO is committed to supporting Member States in achieving the commitments in this pledge.

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