Quick Summary Lead is a kind of metal. People can get sick if they eat or drink something with lead in it. Unfortunately, in the past they used lead in water pipes because lead is flexible and doesn't rust. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission doesn't use lead in the water pipes that deliver water around the city. In the 1980s we removed any lead from our pipes that connect to the water meter. The plumbing in homes, schools, stores and offices is privately owned. Privately owned plumbing sometimes has lead in the pipes or joints. This page provides more information about programs we