A service line is the small pipe that connects your home to the water main under the street. Legally it has two halves: the public side, from the main to your property line, and the private side, from the property line into your house.
When a lead line gets replaced, the utility almost always handles the public side. The private side is where homeowners get surprised: in most cities it is your pipe and your bill — typically $3,000–$8,000, depending on length, depth, paving, and local labor.
Why partial replacement is a trap
Replacing only half a lead line is worse than it sounds: cutting and disturbing the pipe can shake loose lead particles and temporarily raise lead levels at the tap. The EPA's 2027 rule pushes utilities toward full replacements for exactly this reason. If your utility offers to do the public side, ask how the private side gets done at the same time.
Before you pay: three calls to make
- Your water utility. Many now run cost-share or fully funded replacement programs — billions in federal infrastructure money is flowing through state revolving funds for exactly this. Ask: "Do you have a lead service line replacement program, and am I eligible?"
- Your city or state health department. Some states add grants or low-interest loans on top, especially for lower-income households and homes with children.
- Approved contractors only. If a program exists, it usually requires utility-approved plumbers. Hiring your own contractor first can disqualify you from reimbursement.
If you have to wait
Replacement queues run years in big cities. In the meantime, an NSF/ANSI 53 certified filter on your drinking-water tap removes lead reliably for a few hundred dollars — see which filters actually work.