The water service line is the pipe that brings water from the main under the street into your house. In older parts of DC, some of those pipes are lead, and lead can get into drinking water. Finding out what yours is made of takes about twenty minutes, and DC Water has programs that can pay for replacement. This guide explains how to check, which program applies, and what to avoid.
Step 1: Look up your address
DC Water's Lead Free DC construction dashboard shows the status of your address. It will be one of five:
- Project complete. The lead service line on your property has been replaced.
- Project in progress. Your line is being replaced and DC Water will contact you to schedule. Construction for these addresses is expected within the next two years.
- Project pending. Service line records are under review and construction is not yet scheduled.
- Contact DC Water for lead removal options. You are likely eligible for an alternative replacement program (see below).
- No lead service present. DC Water's records show none.
Blocks are chosen each year using a prioritization model, and construction is scheduled as funding is confirmed. The map is updated as blocks are added, so check back. If your status looks wrong, DC Water asks you to photograph the pipe where it enters the house and email lead@dcwater.com, or call 202-787-4044.
Step 2: Look at the pipe yourself
The utility's records are the starting point, not the last word. The service line usually enters the house in the basement or utility area, near the meter and the main shutoff. Lead is a dull gray, soft metal. Galvanized steel is also gray, but a magnet sticks to it. Copper is brown. EPA's advice is to ask your water utility, or a licensed plumber, to help identify the material. Do not scrape or file the pipe hard to test it.
Step 3: Know which program applies
Lead Free DC replaces lead lines on the schedule above. If your address is on the schedule, you do not need to hire anyone.
The Lead Pipe Replacement Assistance Program (LPRAP) is for homes where the private-side pipe is lead, galvanized or brass and the public side is not lead. DC Water's page says homeowners enrolled in the program receive a 100% discount on the private-side replacement. DC Water and DC's Department of Energy and Environment now run a single application, which DC Water says began in October 2026.
Two rules matter more than any other:
- Do not start work until you have an approval and a benefit confirmation letter. Work that starts earlier is not covered.
- The work must be done by a contractor on DC Water's Approved Contractor List. The FY27 list applies from October 1, 2026. The contractor submits a cost proposal only after DOEE approves your application, and the FY27 qualification period for new contractors has closed.
If you are hiring a plumber for this work, ask whether they are on the current Approved Contractor List before you sign anything.
Funding is the open question. DC Water's board was told in January 2026 that the District's funding for the program had been cut sharply and could run out within months. Ask DC Water whether funds are available before you plan around the discount.
Step 4: Protect yourself in the meantime
If you have, or may have, a lead line, EPA recommends that you:
- Use a filter certified to remove lead, and replace the cartridge on schedule. An expired cartridge can be less effective. Do not run hot water through the filter.
- Run the water before drinking if it has been sitting in the pipes, for example by taking a shower, doing laundry or running the dishwasher.
EPA's action level for lead is 15 parts per billion. If more than 10 percent of tap samples at a water system exceed it, the system must take further steps. A test of your own tap can tell you more than the average.
Do it yourself or call a pro
Checking the dashboard and looking at the pipe are DIY jobs. Replacing the line is not. It involves digging, connecting to the meter, a permit, and in DC's program, approved paperwork before the first shovel. If your status says "contact DC Water for options" or you think the map is wrong, call DC Water first, then a plumber.
What to ask before you sign anything
- Is the contractor on DC Water's current Approved Contractor List?
- Do I have my approval and benefit confirmation letter in hand?
- Is the quote private-side only? DC Water's page describes LPRAP as private-side only.
- Who restores the surface, and what is included?
Program rules and funding change. This guide was last reviewed on October 15, 2026. Confirm the details with DC Water before you act.