Lead Service Line Replacement - DEP

Environmental Protection


Lead Service Line Replacement Program


Service Line Diagram

DEP is offering to replace private water service lines that are made of lead or galvanized steel at eligible properties at no cost to homeowners. Service lines will be replaced with a new, safe copper line. If your property is eligible, this program can save you thousands of dollars!

Eligibility

Only homeowners who receive a letter from DEP or the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) are eligible for this program. We are targeting specific geographic areas.

NYC Service Line Map

You can search the NYC Service Line Map to see if your property has a lead service line. If you have questions about this map, please visit Water Service Line Map FAQs.

To learn more about what do to if lead is in your household plumbing, visit Monitoring for Lead.

Lead Service Line Replacement FAQs

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What is a water service line?

Water service lines connect your home’s plumbing to the City’s water main in the street. Homeowners own and are responsible for their service line in its entirety.

Why should I replace my lead service line?

New York City’s water is delivered lead-free and meets or exceeds federal and state health standards. However, if your private service line and/or household plumbing contain lead, it could increase your risk of exposure to lead through your drinking water. Lead can cause serious health problems, particularly for young children and pregnant women. We strongly encourage anyone with a lead service line to replace it to reduce the risk of lead exposure from household plumbing.

In addition, if your property has a lead service line that means your line is more than 60 years old and could need to be replaced soon (plumbers could legally install lead service lines in New York City until 1961). Replacing a service line can cost more than $8,000. Participating in this program can save you thousands of dollars!

How is a lead service line replaced through this program?

Our contractor will contact you to schedule an inspection of your service line to confirm that the line is made of lead and needs to be replaced.

If your service line needs to be replaced, the contractor will schedule a replacement date.

The next step of the process is to replace the lead service line with a new, safe copper line. We request that the property owner or a designated representative be present on this day. Replacement work takes approximately 1-2 days, and we will try to minimize any water service disruptions while we work. We will provide a lead pitcher filter and cartridges, as well as flushing instructions, after replacement.

The final step of the project is restoration of streets and sidewalks. You can expect a brief delay between the completion of your service line replacement and restoration activities (typically between 2-4 weeks).

How do I “flush” my service line?

If you have recently had your lead service line replaced or are about to have it replaced, download the Water Service Line Replacement at Your Home: Flushing Directions to minimize your risk of lead exposure through your plumbing. You can also watch this Whole House Flushing Video for additional information.

What if I have a lead service line and I am not eligible for this program?

To avoid unexpected service line repair costs, consider enrolling in the Service Line Protection Program.

For more information about lead in household plumbing and tips to reduce your exposure visit Lead in Drinking Water.

Where will this work occur?

DEP and DDC will have crews working in eligible neighborhoods. View the NYC Service Line Map to see neighborhood contract areas.

In addition, when our contractors find a lead or galvanized steel water service line while replacing a water main in the street, we will work with the property owner to replace the line with a safe, new copper line at no cost to the homeowner.

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