Lead contamination of drinking water is a significant public health threat. Recently, there have calls for regulatory changes to ban the use of plumbing materials containing lead, such as brass, in favour of low-lead alternatives such as stainless steel. This study aimed to compare the public health risks of lead leaching and microbial growth associated with brass versus stainless steel plumbing fixtures using a model plumbing bioreactor under stagnant conditions. Overall, this study demonstrated that extended stagnation resulted in lead concentrations and pathogen persistence that is considered a risk to public health.