The Lead Pipe Replacement Rule (LCRI): Timeline, Who Pays, What to Do
The lead pipe replacement rule, known formally as the EPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), requires most water systems in the United States to find and fully replace their lead service lines within 10 years. The EPA finalized it in October 2024. Compliance starts November 1, 2027, the lead action level drops from 15 to 10 micrograms per liter, and partial replacements are largely off the table. Here is what it means for homeowners and the trade.
What the LCRI is and when it took effect
The LCRI is a national drinking water regulation the EPA issued on October 8, 2024, and published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2024. It replaces the weaker replacement provisions of the earlier Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) and sets a hard target: fully remove lead and galvanized service lines from the country’s drinking water systems within a decade.
According to the EPA, there are roughly 9.2 million lead service lines still in use nationwide. A service line is the pipe that carries water from the street main into a building. When that pipe is lead, water sitting in it can pick up lead, which is a neurotoxin with no safe exposure level for children. The rule aims to take that pathway out of service for good.
The rule is federal, but states and territories run their own drinking water programs and adopt federal rules into their own codes. That means enforcement dates, funding, and homeowner cost programs may vary by state and by individual water system. Treat the national timeline below as the federal floor, then confirm specifics with your own utility.
The 10-year replacement mandate and timeline
The LCRI requires water systems to reach full lead service line replacement within 10 years of the November 1, 2027 compliance date, per the EPA. Systems must replace lines at a minimum average of 10 percent per year, measured on a three-year rolling average that begins after program year three. The milestones below track the key federal deadlines.
| Date | Milestone | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| October 16, 2024 | Initial service line inventory due (under the earlier LCRR) | All water systems |
| November 2025, 2026, 2027 | Annual notice to customers with lead, galvanized, or unknown lines | Affected water systems |
| November 1, 2027 | Compliance date: baseline inventory, replacement plan, school and childcare list, and updated sampling plan due; 10-year clock starts | All water systems |
| End of program year 3 (about Dec 31, 2030) | Rolling 10 percent average replacement rate begins to be assessed | Systems with lead or galvanized lines |
| 2028 onward | Lead sampling at schools and licensed childcare facilities begins | Community water systems |
| Roughly 2037 | Target for full replacement of lead and galvanized service lines | Most water systems |
A line counts as fully replaced only when the entire length, both the customer side and the system side, is confirmed non-lead, according to the EPA. Systems with unusually large inventories may qualify for a longer deferred schedule, so the exact end date can extend past 2037 in some cities. Your utility’s public replacement plan will state its own annual targets.
Who pays for lead service line replacement
Who pays depends on who owns the pipe and how the work is funded, according to the EPA. Service lines commonly split into two segments: the utility-owned side from the main to the property line, and the customer-owned side from the property line into the home. The LCRI requires the water system to replace the full line, but cost responsibility for the customer side varies by program.
| Line segment | Typical owner | Who usually pays under the LCRI |
|---|---|---|
| Main to property line (utility side) | Water system | Water system, often with federal or state funding |
| Property line into the home (customer side) | Property owner | Covered by program funding in many areas; may be billed to the owner if unfunded |
| Full-line replacement in a funded program | Shared | Frequently no cost to the resident where grants or loans apply |
Here is the key nuance. The rule requires the system to fully replace lead and galvanized lines under its control, but if the customer-owned portion is not paid for by grants or loans, the EPA does not force the utility to absorb it, so a homeowner may be billed for that share. The out-of-pocket cost for a customer-side replacement can be significant, with one industry summary (LegalClarity, 2025) citing a full-line range of roughly $1,200 to $12,300 depending on length, depth, and site conditions.
Funding is meant to close that gap. Congress dedicated $15 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifically for lead service line replacement, plus billions more through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, with a large share reserved for disadvantaged communities as grants or forgivable loans. In many cities the utility’s contractor handles the whole line and is paid directly with program money, so the homeowner pays nothing. Because that funding is local, confirm your city’s arrangement before assuming a bill or assuming it is free.
What the rule changes for testing and lead levels
Beyond replacement, the LCRI tightens how water is tested and when a system must act. The EPA lowered the lead action level from 15 to 10 micrograms per liter and removed the separate trigger level that the earlier rule had used. A lower action level means more systems will cross the threshold that requires public education and corrosion control steps.
The rule also requires more rigorous tap sampling, adds lead sampling at schools and childcare facilities, and strengthens the public notice a utility must send when levels are high. If your water tests above the action level, your system must notify you and take steps to reduce exposure. None of this replaces getting the lead pipe out; it is the interim protection while replacement proceeds.
Corrosion control and filtration reduce lead in the meantime but do not eliminate it. If you have a known lead line, an NSF-certified filter rated for lead can lower what comes out of the tap. For the broader material standards behind lead-safe fixtures and pipe, see our guide to lead-free plumbing requirements.
What homeowners should do now
You do not have to wait for a knock on the door. A few steps put you ahead of the timeline and help you avoid a partial replacement, which the EPA warns can raise lead levels for days to months. Work through this list in order.
- Ask your water utility whether your service line is lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown. Many systems publish a searchable inventory map online.
- Check the pipe yourself where it enters the home. Unpainted lead is dull gray, scratches to a bright silver, and does not attract a magnet. Copper looks like a penny; galvanized steel is silver-gray and magnetic.
- If the material is unknown, have a licensed plumber confirm it. You can find a licensed plumber near you to identify the pipe and flag any lead solder on interior lines.
- Ask your utility about its replacement program: whether it covers the customer-owned side, whether there is a wait list, and whether funding covers your address at no cost.
- Until the line is replaced, use cold water for drinking and cooking, run the tap before use after long idle periods, and consider an NSF-certified lead filter.
- When it is your turn, agree to full replacement of the whole line, not just the utility’s half, so you avoid a partial job.
If your home has old interior plumbing as well as a lead service line, replacement is a natural moment to plan wider upgrades. Our breakdown of what it costs to repipe a house helps you budget if you decide to modernize supply lines at the same time, and if the water heater is aging, review water heater replacement cost before you schedule multiple jobs.
What utilities and plumbers should do
For water systems and the contractors they hire, the LCRI turns lead replacement from optional to mandatory with a paper trail. Every system needs a locked baseline inventory, a public replacement plan, and documented progress toward the 10 percent annual average. Plumbers doing the work should expect verification requirements and stricter records.
Contractors bidding replacement work should confirm the funding source before starting, because it determines who is billed and what documentation the utility needs. A line is only credited as replaced when both sides are confirmed non-lead, so partial swaps do not count toward the mandate and can create liability. Systems must also make at least four contact attempts, using more than one method, to reach customers before proceeding, per the EPA.
Because states adopt and enforce the federal rule through their own programs, the exact forms, deadlines, and funding channels differ by state. Shops working across state lines should verify each state agency’s version rather than assuming the federal calendar applies uniformly.
The bottom line
The lead pipe replacement rule sets a national deadline to get lead out of drinking water within about 10 years, starting November 1, 2027, according to the EPA. Homeowners should find out their line material now, insist on full replacement when offered, and ask whether funding covers the cost. Utilities and plumbers should plan for mandatory, documented replacement at a minimum 10 percent yearly pace. Because states and water systems run their own programs, confirm the specifics that apply to your address with your utility and state agency.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI)?
The LCRI is a federal drinking water rule the EPA finalized in October 2024. It requires most water systems to identify and fully replace lead and galvanized service lines within 10 years, lowers the lead action level from 15 to 10 micrograms per liter, and tightens tap sampling and public notice rules. Compliance begins November 1, 2027, according to the EPA.
When do lead pipes have to be replaced under the new rule?
Water systems must reach full lead service line replacement within 10 years of the compliance date, which the EPA set at November 1, 2027, putting most systems on track through roughly 2037. Systems must hit a minimum average of 10 percent replacement per year, assessed on a three-year rolling average starting after program year three. Some systems get extended timelines based on the size of their inventory.
Who pays to replace a lead service line?
It depends on who owns the line and how the work is funded, according to the EPA. Service lines often split into a utility-owned side and a customer-owned side. The LCRI requires the water system to replace the full line, but if the customer-owned portion is not covered by grants or loans, the utility may bill the homeowner for that share. Many programs use federal or state funding to cover the entire line at no cost to the resident.
Do I have to let the water utility replace my lead pipe?
No. Under the LCRI, a water system must offer and attempt to reach you, but it cannot force entry to replace the customer-owned side of the line, per the EPA. The system has to make repeated contact attempts using more than one method. Declining usually means giving up funded replacement and risking a partial replacement, which the EPA warns can spike lead levels for days to months.
How do I know if I have a lead service line?
Ask your water utility. Under the rule, every system had to build a service line inventory and notify customers whose line is lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or of unknown material. Many utilities post a searchable inventory map online. You can also check where the pipe enters your home: unpainted lead is dull gray, scratches to a shiny silver, and is not magnetic. When unsure, have a licensed plumber confirm the material.
Does the lead pipe replacement rule still apply in 2026?
As of August 2026 the LCRI remains the finalized federal rule, with the November 1, 2027 compliance date still standing, according to the EPA. The rule has faced legal challenges and industry requests to adjust timelines, so specific deadlines or details could shift. Because states run their own drinking water programs, confirm current requirements with your state agency and water utility.
Last reviewed: August 2026.