Costs
Who actually pays to replace a lead service line?
The private side is usually yours — often $3,000 to $8,000. Where to find cost-share help before you spend a dollar.
EPA Lead & Copper Rule
Is there lead in the pipe to your home?
A clear, sourced guide to the EPA's 2027 lead-pipe rule — a 60-second risk check, what replacement costs and who pays, and the filters that actually remove lead.
~9M
lead service lines still carry water to U.S. homes
Source · U.S. EPANov 2027
EPA's deadline to begin replacing every lead line
Source · EPA LCRIZero
amount of lead in drinking water the EPA considers safe
Source · EPA / CDCInteractive · The 60-second check
Find out where your home stands
Answer a few questions — your result updates live with a clear risk level, what to do next, and certified filters matched to your home.
—/ 100 lead-risk index
Guides & explainers
Run the check → 
How-to
Test your pipe in two minutes
A coin, a magnet, and a flashlight tell you more about your incoming pipe than most people realize.
Reviews
The filters that actually remove lead
Most pitchers do not. The ones that do — and reverse-osmosis systems — carry one label: NSF/ANSI 53.
Explainer
What the 2027 EPA rule means for your home
Every lead line in America has to come out. The clock started quietly in October 2024.
Guide
Lead, galvanized, or copper? Decode your utility notice
Utilities have mailed millions of letters since 2024. Here is how to read the one in your mailbox.
Map
Is your city replacing its lead lines yet?
Chicago, Detroit, Newark and more — where the largest replacement programs in the country stand.
The 2027 rule
Why this is happening now
The EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) require water utilities to find and replace every lead service line — and to tell you about yours.
Oct 2024
Notices begin
Utilities must tell every customer whether their line is lead, galvanized, or unknown. Millions of letters are going out — yours may be one of them.
Nov 2027
The rule takes effect
A stricter lead limit, complete service-line inventories, and public replacement plans become mandatory nationwide.
2027–37
Ten-year replacement
Lead lines must be replaced on a schedule of at least 10% a year. The private side is usually the homeowner's cost.
Costs & who pays
The part most homeowners miss
A service line has two halves. The public side — from the water main to your property line — is the utility's job. The private side — from your property line into the house — is usually yours to pay for, often $3,000–$8,000.
Before you pay out of pocket, check whether your utility offers cost-share or full-replacement assistance — many do, and using a non-approved contractor can disqualify you. The risk check above flags this when it applies to you.
Water filters
One certification matters: NSF/ANSI 53
Many pitchers and faucet filters do not remove lead. The ones that do — and reverse-osmosis systems — are certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead. That is the single label to look for.
Run the check above and we'll match a certified option to your home: a renter-friendly pitcher, a faucet filter, a countertop reverse-osmosis system, or a whole-house system for owners.
FAQ
Common questions
How do I know if I have a lead service line?
Three quick signals: a notice from your water utility (they have been mailing these since 2024), the age of your home (lead lines were banned by 1986, effective 1988), and a scratch + magnet test on your incoming pipe — soft, dull gray, shiny when scratched and non-magnetic points to lead. The risk check above combines these; a certified water test or your utility’s inventory confirms it.
Who pays to replace a lead service line?
The water utility typically replaces the public side (main to your property line). The private side (property line to your house) is usually the homeowner’s cost — often $3,000–$8,000. Many utilities run cost-share or assistance programs, so ask before you pay out of pocket.
What water filter actually removes lead?
Look for one certification: NSF/ANSI 53 for lead. Many pitchers and faucet filters do not remove lead — certified ones, and reverse-osmosis systems, do. The check above matches a certified option to whether you own or rent, your budget, and whether you want drinking-water or whole-house protection.
What is the EPA 2027 lead pipe rule (LCRI)?
The EPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements take effect November 1, 2027, with a stricter lead limit and a national push to replace every lead service line over about ten years. Utilities must inventory their lines and notify customers — which is why you may have received a letter.