Lead Service Line Check and Replace: 4 Steps to Safe Water

TL;DR: A lead service line is the pipe that runs from the city water main to your house. About 6.5 million U.S. homes still have them. Scratch the pipe with a coin — if it turns shiny silver, it's lead. Check your city's published service line map online, and contact your water utility about cost-share replacement programs. The EPA now requires full replacement (not partial) to avoid temporarily raising lead levels.

_Last reviewed: July 2026 · 5 min read_

Most homeowners never think about the pipe buried between the street and their house — until they learn it might be leaching lead into every glass of water. If your home was built before 1986, there's a chance that service line is lead, and replacing it is one of the most important maintenance decisions you can make for long-term health and property value.

Okoniq Property Hub lets you log water quality tests, store contractor bids, and keep service line replacement records in one place so you don't lose track of what's been tested or quoted.

Why does a lead service line matter for drinking water?

Lead doesn't break down. When water sits in a lead pipe — especially water that's slightly acidic or has low mineral content — microscopic amounts of lead dissolve into the flow. Over months and years, that exposure adds up in the body, particularly in children under six and pregnant women. The CDC states there is no safe level of lead in children's blood.

Even homes with copper plumbing inside can be at risk if the service line from the street is lead. That buried section is often the original pipe installed when the house was connected to the municipal water system, sometimes a century ago. The EPA estimates 6.5 million lead service lines remain in use across the U.S., concentrated in older cities in the Midwest and Northeast. If you're also managing basement waterproofing or crawl space moisture control, a service line replacement project is a natural time to inspect and upgrade the plumbing entry point at the foundation.

How do you check if your service line is lead?

The fastest field test is a coin scratch. Find the service line where it enters your basement or crawlspace — it's the main water pipe coming through the foundation wall, usually 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter. Use a nickel or penny to scratch the surface after wiping off any dirt. If the scratch reveals shiny silver metal (like a new penny), it's likely lead. If you see copper-orange or dull gray, it's probably copper, galvanized steel, or plastic.

Lead pipes are also soft to the touch and make a dull thud when tapped with a coin, unlike the ring of copper or the hard clang of galvanized steel. Many cities now publish searchable service line inventory maps online — search "[your city name] lead service line map" to see if your address is listed. Chicago, Milwaukee, and Newark have some of the most detailed public databases. If your city doesn't have a map, call the water utility and ask if they have records for your property.

You can also request a free or low-cost water test kit from your utility or state health department. Most test for lead concentration in parts per billion (ppb). The EPA action level is 15 ppb, but many pediatricians recommend keeping levels below 5 ppb in homes with young children. For a comprehensive approach to home plumbing health, test both first-draw water (after sitting overnight) and flushed water (after running the tap for two minutes).

Should you replace the whole line or just your side?

The EPA's revised Lead and Copper Rule, effective October 2024, strongly discourages partial replacements. A partial replacement — where only the private side (homeowner's portion) or only the public side (utility's portion) is swapped out — can cause a temporary spike in lead levels. Disturbing one section of pipe loosens scale and particles that flow into the home, and mismatched metals can accelerate galvanic corrosion.

Full replacement means swapping the entire line from the water main in the street to the meter or entry point in your house. That typically requires coordination between you and the utility, since the property line usually falls somewhere in the middle of the service line. Many utilities now offer combined replacement programs where they replace their portion at the same time you replace yours, often at a discount or on a shared timeline. Newark, New Jersey replaced every lead service line in the city between 2019 and 2021 using this model, cutting the average homeowner cost to under $1,000 with grant funding.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $15 billion specifically for lead service line replacement through state revolving loan funds. Check if your state has opened applications — some programs cover 100% of the cost for income-qualified households and up to 49% for others. If you're also planning a basement dehumidifier installation or foundation work, bundling the excavation can save money on site prep and restoration.

What does replacement cost and how long does it take?

Typical full replacement costs range from $3,500 to $12,000 depending on the distance from the street, landscaping complexity, and whether the street needs to be opened. Urban properties with sidewalks, mature trees, or deep frost lines run higher. The work usually takes one to three days: day one for excavation and pipe installation, day two for pressure testing and backfill, day three for landscaping repair if needed.

Most contractors use HDPE (high-density polyethylene) or copper for the new service line. HDPE is flexible, corrosion-resistant, and cheaper to install because it can often be pulled through the old trench without full excavation. Copper is traditional and some codes still require it, but it's more expensive and subject to theft in some regions. Make sure the contract specifies who is responsible for restoring the lawn, driveway, or sidewalk — some utilities handle street-side restoration, others leave it to the homeowner.

During the work, your water will be shut off for several hours. Plan to fill a few containers in advance. After the line is reconnected, run cold water taps for 15 minutes to flush out any debris, then avoid drinking from the hot water tap for 24 hours (lead particles can settle in the water heater). Request a post-replacement water test within 30 days to confirm lead levels have dropped. Store the lab report, contractor invoice, and utility coordination emails in one place — Okoniq Property Hub is built for exactly this kind of multi-document, multi-year project record.

What if replacement isn't an option right now?

If you confirm you have a lead service line but can't replace it immediately, the EPA recommends several interim steps. Always run cold water for 30 seconds to two minutes before using it for drinking or cooking — this flushes out water that's been sitting in contact with lead. Use only cold water for consumption (hot water leaches more lead). Install a NSF-certified point-of-use filter rated for lead removal on your kitchen tap — look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53 certification. Replace the filter cartridge on schedule.

Consider a whole-house filter at the service line entry point if you have young children or are pregnant. These systems cost $800 to $2,000 installed and require annual maintenance, but they protect every tap in the house. Document filter changes and test results the same way you would HVAC filter replacements or boiler inspections — routine upkeep that protects occupant health.

FAQ

How long does lead stay in the body after exposure stops?

Lead has a half-life of about 30 days in blood and up to 30 years in bone. Children clear blood lead faster than adults, but bone stores release slowly over time. The CDC recommends follow-up blood tests every three to six months after removing the exposure source until levels are consistently below 3.5 micrograms per deciliter.

Can a water softener remove lead?

No. Water softeners exchange calcium and magnesium for sodium, but they do not remove heavy metals like lead. You need a filter specifically certified for lead reduction, typically using activated carbon, reverse osmosis, or distillation.

Will boiling water remove lead?

No. Boiling concentrates lead because water evaporates but lead does not. If you suspect lead contamination, use cold filtered water or bottled water until you can test and replace the line.

Who owns the service line — the homeowner or the utility?

Ownership varies by municipality. In most cities, the utility owns the section from the water main to the curb stop (shutoff valve at the property line), and the homeowner owns the section from the curb stop to the house. Some cities own the entire line. Check your water bill or call the utility to confirm your jurisdiction's policy.

Does homeowner's insurance cover lead service line replacement?

Standard policies do not cover routine replacement of lead lines because it's considered maintenance or an environmental hazard, not sudden accidental damage. Some insurers offer optional water line coverage endorsements that may include service line replacement if a break occurs, but they typically exclude replacement solely for lead content. Check your policy or ask your agent.

This is educational information, not medical or legal advice. Consult your state health department for blood lead testing guidance and your water utility for local replacement requirements. If you suspect acute lead poisoning, contact your doctor immediately.