Which Cities Will Replace Your Lead Pipe for Free, 2026
Short answer
Of the 24 cities we track, 16 replace the private side of a lead service line for free when their program reaches the home, and 8 pay the full cost only for some homes. None of the 24 leaves every homeowner to pay alone. Check your address with your city first: the city program is free or cheaper than hiring on your own in most of these cities.
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- Official sources
- Last checked:
The private side is the part of the water line on your property, usually from the curb or meter into the home. This report shows who pays for it in each city. Facts come from each city's or utility's own page, and state loan fund figures come from the state's own funding list. Each row shows the date we checked. Where a fact is not on an official page, the table says "not confirmed". Report date: .
Download the data (CSV) · Cite this report · Printable one-pagers
How we sorted the cities
- Free (16 cities): The city or its water utility replaces the private side at no cost to the homeowner when its program reaches the home, on a schedule, by queue, or on request. You may need to qualify or sign a consent form.
- Partly paid (8 cities): The full cost is covered only for some homes, set by income, a letter, a project area or construction work. Other owners pay all or part of the cost, sometimes with a fee waiver, discount or loan.
- Homeowner pays (0 cities): No city program pays for the private side. The owner pays, even if a loan or payment plan is offered.
Free: 16 cities
Rule: The city or its water utility replaces the private side at no cost to the homeowner when its program reaches the home, on a schedule, by queue, or on request. You may need to qualify or sign a consent form.
| City | Does the city pay for the private side? | Cost to the homeowner | Check your address | Deadline or pace | State loan fund figure | Source and date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, Michigan Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0. DWSD says it replaces lead lines at no cost to customers (May 10, 2024 news release). Confirm with DWSD at 313-267-8000. | Detroit address lookup Call 313-267-8000 |
About 10 years for all lead lines; state law requires it by 2040. 1,015 replaced in 2026 and 16,733 since 2018 (as of Aug 31, 2026). | $10,000,000 (State fiscal year 2026), checked | Lead Service Line Replacement Program Re-check on Oct 18, 2026 did not find the cost wording on the page; fact kept from Oct 15, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee Water Works |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0 for 1 to 4 unit homes with no commercial use when replacement is required. Owner Request Program: you pay the lesser of actual cost or the $3,454 five-year average for the private side. | Milwaukee address lookup Call 414-286-6304 |
Owner Request Program: 200 properties a year. | $50,532,000 (State fiscal year 2026), checked | Lead service line replacement (prioritized program + Owner Request Program) Official page unreachable on Oct 18, 2026, not verified; fact kept from Oct 15, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Columbus, Ohio Columbus Water & Power |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0 when the program reaches you and you sign a work agreement. Sooner: a no-interest lien loan of up to $10,000, repaid when you sell or cash-out refinance. | Columbus address lookup Call 614-645-6725 |
12-year street-by-street program. | not confirmed | Lead Service Line Replacement Program + LEAP Official page unreachable on Oct 18, 2026, not verified; fact kept from Oct 17, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Denver, Colorado Denver Water |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0 (no direct charge) with a signed consent form. | Denver address lookup Call 303-893-2444 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Lead Reduction Program Re-check on Oct 18, 2026 did not find the cost wording on the page; fact kept from Oct 17, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Water |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0 in neighborhood projects. Hire your own plumber: reimbursement up to 100% by income, or a $1,000 stipend. | Pittsburgh address lookup Call 412-255-8987 |
On track to replace all residential lead lines by 2027. | not confirmed | Community Lead Response Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Louisville, Kentucky Louisville Water Company |
Yes, the customer-owned outdoor portion of the line. Ask about pipes inside the home. | $0 for the outdoor line. Louisville Water says it pays 100% of the cost. | Louisville address lookup Call 502-569-0898 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Private Side Lead Line Replacement Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Boston, Massachusetts Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0 when BWSC does the work. | Boston address lookup Call 617-989-7888 |
Work is generally done April through October. | not confirmed | Lead Replacement Incentive Program Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Minneapolis, Minnesota City of Minneapolis Public Works |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0 in the city program. Hire your own contractor: cost can be assessed to property taxes over 5 or 10 years. | Minneapolis address lookup Call 612-673-5600 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Lead Service Line Replacement Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Omaha, Nebraska Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0. | Omaha address lookup Call 402-504-7029 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Lead Service Line Replacement Program Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| New Orleans, Louisiana Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0 with a signed Right-of-Entry form. | New Orleans address lookup Call 504-420-1357 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Lead Service Line Replacement Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS) |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0 for eligible owners. | Saint Paul address lookup Call 651-266-6820 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Lead Free SPRWS Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Toledo, Ohio City of Toledo Department of Public Utilities |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0. | Toledo address lookup Call 419-936-2020 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Lead Line Replacements Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Buffalo, New York Buffalo Water |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0 for qualifying lines (queue). | Buffalo address lookup Call 716-847-1065 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Replace Old Lead Lines (ROLL) Re-check on Oct 18, 2026 did not find the cost wording on the page; fact kept from Oct 15, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Newark, New Jersey Newark Water and Sewer Utilities |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0. Owners not yet replaced must register and give right of entry. | Newark address lookup Call 973-733-6303 |
More than 23,000 lines replaced; program largely complete. | not confirmed | Lead Service Line Replacement Program Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Austin, Texas Austin Water |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0 for lines classified galvanized requiring replacement. | Austin address lookup Call 512-972-2133 |
Federal rules require most systems to replace lead and GRR lines by Dec 31, 2037. | not confirmed | Galvanized Service Line Replacement Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| El Paso, Texas El Paso Water |
Yes, at no cost to the owner when the program does the work. | $0 (at El Paso Water's expense). If you sign a release to do it yourself, you pay. | El Paso address lookup | El Paso Water says replacement is a regulatory requirement to be completed within a decade. | not confirmed | Lead Awareness / service line replacement Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
Partly paid: 8 cities
Rule: The full cost is covered only for some homes, set by income, a letter, a project area or construction work. Other owners pay all or part of the cost, sometimes with a fee waiver, discount or loan.
| City | Does the city pay for the private side? | Cost to the homeowner | Check your address | Deadline or pace | State loan fund figure | Source and date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, Illinois Chicago Department of Water Management |
Yes, for homeowners who live in the home and have income below 80% of area median income. Others pay their own contractor; the City waives permit fees. | $0 in the Equity program for eligible homeowners. Homeowner-Initiated: you pay your contractor; the City waives permit fees. | Chicago address lookup Call 312-742-2406 |
Funding is limited; priority to homes with children 18 and under or high lead in a city test. No deadline published. | $28,000,000 (State fiscal year 2026), checked | Equity Lead Service Line Replacement Program Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| New York City, New York NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) |
Yes, only at properties DEP contacts by letter (or DDC during main work). Other owners pay for the whole line. | $0 if DEP or DDC contacts you. Otherwise you pay; DEP says a replacement can cost more than $8,000. | New York City address lookup | not confirmed | not confirmed | Lead Service Line Replacement Program Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Water |
Yes, in planned project areas and for customer-owned lead lines disturbed during repairs. Outside those, you pay for your side. | $0 for city-owned and customer-owned lines in planned project areas, and for customer-owned lead lines disturbed during repairs. Outside those, you pay for your side if you replace it yourself. | Cleveland address lookup Call 216-664-2882 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Lead Service Line Replacement Program Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Cincinnati, Ohio Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) |
Yes, 100% when you take part: at child care facilities, during main projects, for leaking or high-testing lines, and in targeted areas. | $0. GCWW says there is no cost to the property owner and it pays the plumbers directly. | Cincinnati address lookup Call 513-651-5323 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Lead Service Line Replacement Program Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) |
Yes, during planned water main work. Otherwise the owner pays, with a zero-interest HELP loan available. | $0 during planned water main work. With HELP you repay the full cost over 60 months with no interest if payments are on time. | Philadelphia address lookup Call 215-685-4901 |
Pilot of about 1,000 lead lines in North and West Philadelphia starting in 2026. | not confirmed | HELP zero-interest loan + main-replacement program Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Indianapolis, Indiana Citizens Energy Group |
Yes, in designated project areas with a signed Right-of-Entry agreement. Outside project areas, the owner pays. | $0 in project areas. Citizens Energy recovers costs with a monthly charge on water bills ($4.49 or $6.73 by customer class). | Indianapolis address lookup Call 317-941-7120 |
not confirmed | $73,770,000 (State fiscal year 2026), checked | Lead Service Line Replacement Program Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Washington, DC, District of Columbia DC Water |
Yes, during DC Water's planned projects with a signed Right-of-Entry form. Outside projects, an income-based discount of up to 100% (LPRAP). | $0 in planned projects. Outside them, discount of up to 100% depending on income. | Washington, DC address lookup Call 202-787-4044 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Lead Free DC Confirmed on the official page Oct 18, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
| Rochester, New York City of Rochester Department of Environmental Services |
Yes, when your street is in a scheduled city project. | $0 on scheduled streets. Otherwise: not confirmed. | Rochester address lookup Call 585-428-7049 |
not confirmed | not confirmed | Lead Service Line Replacement Projects Re-check on Oct 18, 2026 did not find the cost wording on the page; fact kept from Oct 15, 2026. One-pager (PDF) |
Homeowner pays: 0 cities
Rule: No city program pays for the private side. The owner pays, even if a loan or payment plan is offered.
None of our 24 cities is in this group as of Oct 18, 2026.
Notes on the data
- "State loan fund figure" is the amount listed for the city's water system on the state drinking water loan fund list for lead service lines. We show it only where we confirmed it on the state's own list. It is money listed for the system, not a payment to homeowners.
- "Not confirmed" means we did not find the fact on an official page. It is not a guess either way.
- Programs change. Before you act, check your city's official page or call the number shown.
Printable one-pagers
One page per city, "Lead pipes in [City]: what to do", in large type for clinics, libraries and neighbors. Free to print and share.
- Chicago (PDF)
- New York City (PDF)
- Detroit (PDF)
- Milwaukee (PDF)
- Cleveland (PDF)
- Columbus (PDF)
- Denver (PDF)
- Pittsburgh (PDF)
- Cincinnati (PDF)
- Philadelphia (PDF)
- Indianapolis (PDF)
- Louisville (PDF)
- Washington, DC (PDF)
- Boston (PDF)
- Minneapolis (PDF)
- Omaha (PDF)
- New Orleans (PDF)
- Saint Paul (PDF)
- Toledo (PDF)
- Buffalo (PDF)
- Newark (PDF)
- Rochester (PDF)
- Austin (PDF)
- El Paso (PDF)
Cite this report
LeadPipeHelp. "Which Cities Will Replace Your Lead Pipe for Free, 2026." leadpipehelp.org/reports/free-lead-pipe-replacement-2026/, Oct 18, 2026. Data: CC BY 4.0.