A SURVEY AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LEAD IN DRINKING WATER POLICIES IN THE AMERICAS

Lead (Pb) contamination in drinking water remains a major public health concern across the Americas, driven by aging infrastructure and lead‑containing plumbing materials. Yet the extent of enforceable, actionable policies to prevent exposure is unclear. This study evaluates lead‑in‑water policies across 28 North and South American countries, identifying strengths and gaps in regulatory frameworks aimed at eliminating lead from drinking water. Policies were assessed for monitoring requirements, lead‑source elimination, budget commitments, plumbing material regulations, and enabling policy environments. Documents were sourced using large language models, compiled in a Tableau repository, graded with a standardized system, and visualized with Harvey Balls. Findings show widespread adoption of national drinking water strategies and lead‑related regulations, but persistent gaps in monitoring, enforcement, budget allocation, and actionable lead‑elimination measures. Strengthening policy robustness and enforceability may improve the effectiveness of regulatory frameworks for protecting human health and improving drinking water quality.