Collection of drinking water and the investigation of drinking pathways residents were carried out in a district of Yinchuan. Five kinds of common heavy metals in drinking water（arsenic

cadmium

copper

lead and nickel） were determined and furthermore

health risks caused by heavy metals in different pathways of drinking water were compared.Results showed none of the five heavy metals exceeded the standards in China（GB 5749—2006）. Heavy metals cannot cause obvious non-carcinogenic risk. Carcinogenic risk caused by arsenic are less than the the maximum acceptable risk level suggested by USEPA. Among different drinking ways

water heating by electric kettle has the highest concentration of heavy metals and the highest health risk

and there is a speculation that heavy metal will be dissolved out in the process of hot water heating. At last

drinking through water purifier or from barrelled water would be better ways.