DEP Expands Critical Lead Service Line Replacement Program for Low-Income Residents

New York City, trying to tackle its significant lead pipe problem, has announced it is expanding an existing program to replace lead service lines at no cost in targeted low-income and environmental justice areas of the city.

Last month, Mayor Eric Adams announced a $48 million effort to replace privately-owned lead service lines in the Bronx and Queens for low-income families. Water service lines connect directly to the city’s water mains and service line replacement can typically cost more than $10,000. Those eligible for the program have a median household income of less than $47,600.

The program is focused on areas with a high concentration of lead service lines, which carry water from the city’s water mains into buildings where they connect with localized plumbing fixtures. Only homeowners who are contacted by DEP may participate in the program.

“There is no more important mission than keeping New Yorkers and our water supply safe,” said New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner and New York City Chief Climate Officer Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Our water is lead free, but lead in homeowners’ pipes and service lines can introduce lead into drinking water. We’re pleased to make use of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s funding to help New Yorkers by replacing their lead service lines, and we are grateful to the Biden-Harris administration, Congress, the EPA, and New York state for making this funding available.

This is an expansion of a pilot program that began in 2022, where approximately 600 privately-owned lead service lines were replaced in all boroughs except Manhattan, at no cost to property owners.

“NYC has done an extraordinary job of protecting its drinking water source, yet with every lead pipe in the ground, it’s a diminishment of city’s return on investment and a lurking public health threat to those who drink water through it,” said Josh Klainberg, Senior President for the New York League of Conservation Voters. “We are pleased that the city has announced this $48 million expansion of an existing program and urge all residents to respond to DEP’s offer to replace the pipe at no cost.”

The $48 million award comes in the form of a $20 million grant and a $28 million interest-free loan, funded by the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure law, which earmarked $15 billion nationally for lead service line replacement. New York State announced in late-September that it would put in state money to forgive the $28 million loan portion for this award.

Under the program announced by Mayor Adams, the DEP has already begun sending letters out to eligible residents in the Bronx, informing them of this program and how they can enroll. Replacement work has already begun in some areas in the Bronx. Eligible residents in Queens will start to receive letters next year.

Following a requirement set by the new federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, more than 250,000 DEP customers citywide that have lead or galvanized steel, or have unknown service line materials will receive letters informing them how they can take steps to protect themselves against lead poisoning.

 These steps include: 

1. Running tap water in the morning until it becomes colder, usually taking 1 to 2 minutes. The colder water is an indication that the water sitting in your home pipes overnight has been flushed out and that fresh water from the city’s water mains is now flowing into your home and is safer to drink.
2. Clean the faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator) periodically. In some homes, small particles containing lead can get trapped in these devices.
3. Use a water filter certified by the NSF or UL for lead removal, such as a Brita filter. These can either be installed under a sink or used in a special pitcher. For more info on water filters, see this article in Consumer Reports. 
4. The surest way to remove lead from your drinking water is to replace your lead water service line and/or lead plumbing fixtures in your home. You can do that by hiring a licensed master plumber.

NYLCV estimates that NYC will receive a grand total of $120 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Unfortunately, this amount of funding will not be adequate. DEP estimates that there are approximately 150,000 lead pipes in need of replacement, making the total cost of replacement $2 billion. In other words, BIL funding will only cover just 6% of what is needed, which is a start but far short of what the city needs. New federal and state funding sources to replace lead service lines will need to be identified to help New York City, and all water suppliers, to fully fund this program with public dollars.