Costs
Who actually pays to replace a lead service line?
Private-side payment rules vary by city and utility. Where to find cost-share or full-replacement 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.
Sources EPA · EPA lead health
~9M
lead service lines still carry water to U.S. homes
Source · U.S. EPANov 2027
EPA's deadline for systems to comply with the LCRI
Source · EPA LCRIZero
amount of lead in drinking water the EPA considers safe
Source · EPAInteractive · 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
Generic filter claims are not enough. Look for model-level certification for lead reduction — usually NSF/ANSI 53, or NSF/ANSI 58 for reverse osmosis.
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 systems to identify service-line materials, notify affected customers, and replace lead and certain galvanized lines under their control.
Oct 2024
Notices begin
Water systems had to complete initial service-line inventories and notify people served by lead, galvanized, or unknown lines. Yours may be one of those notices.
Nov 2027
The rule takes effect
The lower 10 ppb lead action level, updated inventories, public replacement planning, and stronger communication rules become the operative standard.
2027–37
Ten-year replacement
Most systems must replace lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines under their control within ten years; a limited number get longer schedules.
Costs & who pays
The part most homeowners miss
A service line often has a public side and a private side, but ownership and payment rules vary by place. The rule pushes systems toward full replacement; whether you personally pay for the private side depends on your state, utility, funding program, and approved-contractor rules.
Before you pay out of pocket, check whether your utility offers cost-share or full-replacement assistance. Many programs do, and using a non-approved contractor can disqualify you. The risk check above flags this when it applies to you.
Water filters
Two certification labels matter
Many generic pitchers and faucet filters are not certified to reduce lead. For ordinary filters, look for NSF/ANSI 53 for lead on the exact model. For reverse-osmosis systems, look for NSF/ANSI 58.
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 an under-sink system for owners. If you are worried about the whole home, the safer answer is point-of-use drinking-water protection plus line replacement planning.
FAQ
Common questions
How do I know if I have a lead service line?
Three quick signals: a notice from your water utility (these began under the 2024 inventory rules), the age of your home (lead pipes are more likely in homes built before 1986), 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; your utility inventory, an inspection, or a licensed plumber confirms the line material. A certified water test confirms whether lead is present in your drinking water.
Who pays to replace a lead service line?
Ownership and payment rules vary by city, state, and utility. Many systems distinguish the public side from the private side, and some programs cover the full line while others require cost-share. Ask your utility about assistance and approved contractors before paying out of pocket.
What water filter actually removes lead?
Look for model-level certification for lead reduction: NSF/ANSI 53 for lead-reduction filters, or NSF/ANSI 58 for reverse-osmosis systems. Many generic pitchers and faucet filters are certified only for taste/odor, not lead. Certified lead filtration is usually point-of-use, so protect the taps used for drinking and cooking while you confirm the line and plan replacement.
What is the EPA 2027 lead pipe rule (LCRI)?
The EPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements require water systems to comply in late 2027, lower the lead action level to 10 ppb, and require most systems to replace lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines under their control within ten years. Systems must maintain public inventories and notify people served by lead, galvanized, or unknown lines.