Aurora says more than 10% of tested water samples exceeded lead level

Aurora says more than 10% of 100 household tap-water samples collected during the first half of 2026 exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s lead action level. The city published its lead action-level exceedance notice on July 14.

The result is serious, but it does not mean every Aurora property has lead in its water. It applies to the homes included in the sampling program. Water conditions can vary by property, plumbing materials, service-line construction, household water use and how long water has been sitting in pipes.

What the action level means

The EPA‘s 15-parts-per-billion figure is a regulatory action level used to determine whether a public water system must take additional steps. It is not a declaration that water below that level contains no lead, and it does not guarantee that a particular home’s water is free of lead.

When a system exceeds the action level under federal lead and copper rules, the response can include public education, additional monitoring, evaluation of corrosion-control treatment and work to identify and replace lead service lines. Aurora says those steps are part of its response.

What residents can do now

Aurora’s guidance encourages residents to seek information about testing and identify the material of the water service line serving their property. That information may matter to homeowners, landlords, renters and businesses because service-line responsibilities can differ between city-owned and privately owned portions.

For drinking, cooking and infant formula, residents should use cold water. The city also recommends flushing stagnant water before use and using a filter certified for lead removal when appropriate. Flushing allows fresh water from the main to replace water that has been sitting in household plumbing; residents should follow Aurora’s specific guidance for their property and plumbing setup.

Parents and caregivers with concerns about possible exposure should consult a health professional or official public-health guidance, including when asking about child lead testing. Aurora’s notice does not announce a general drinking-water ban.

What Aurora says comes next

Aurora says sampling will continue. The city also plans to evaluate corrosion-control treatment and proceed with lead-service-line replacement activity. The notice does not establish that all affected locations have been identified or that replacement work is complete across the system.

Questions remain about the locations and characteristics of the homes represented in the sample, the number and status of service-line replacements, and whether future monitoring shows a different pattern. Residents should watch for additional city updates and use Aurora’s lead-in-drinking-water information for testing, filter and service-line guidance.

Sources

• City of Aurora lead action-level exceedance notice
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lead and copper guidance
• NBC Chicago report on Aurora's water warning