Lead water service lines remain one of the most serious public health concerns in New York City. According to a 2025 report by the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, an estimated 555,000 lead service lines still exist across NYC — approximately 41 percent of all water service connections in the city. Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water as it passes through lead pipes, especially when water sits in the pipes for extended periods (such as overnight or during vacations). The health effects of lead exposure are well documented and alarming. In children, even low levels of lead exposure can cause developmental delays, learning disabilities, reduced IQ, behavioral problems, and hearing loss. In adults, lead exposure is linked to high blood pressure, kidney damage, reproductive problems, and neurological issues. There is no safe level of lead exposure according to the CDC. The good news for NYC property owners is that the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) launched a Lead Service Line Replacement Program that offers free replacement of private lead and galvanized steel water service lines at eligible properties. As of 2026, the program has been expanded with additional federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. To be eligible, your property must have a water service line made of lead or galvanized steel (which may have lead solder joints), be a residential property (1 to 4 family homes are prioritized), and be located within the NYC water supply service area. DEP will conduct a free inspection to determine your pipe material if you are unsure. How do you know if your water main is lead? There are several ways to check. First, look at where the water service line enters your building — lead pipes are dull gray and can be scratched with a key or coin to reveal shiny silver metal underneath. Copper pipes are copper-colored and cannot be easily scratched. Galvanized steel is gray but magnetic (lead is not). Second, you can request a free water test kit from DEP or purchase one from a hardware store. Third, check the NYC DEP Lead Service Line Map, which shows known and suspected lead service lines by address. If your property has a lead water main, here is what you should do immediately: run your cold water tap for at least 30 seconds before drinking or cooking (this flushes standing water that may have accumulated lead), use only cold water for drinking and cooking (hot water dissolves more lead), consider installing an NSF-certified water filter rated for lead removal, and apply for the DEP free replacement program. The replacement process typically takes 1 to 2 days for the actual pipe work, plus 2 to 4 weeks for permit processing. DEP handles all permits and street restoration at no cost to the property owner. If you do not qualify for the free program or prefer not to wait, Sewer and Water Pros can replace your lead water main with new copper pipe. The typical cost for a residential lead water main replacement in NYC ranges from $8,000 to $18,000 depending on the length of the service line and site conditions. We handle all DEP permits and DOT street opening permits. Call (917) 447-7377 for a free assessment.