What We Do
Lead Service Replacement Program
The District's water distribution system (water mains) is virtually lead-free. However some older service lines in the District are made from lead. The service line is the pipe that carries water from the main in the street to the home. Some homes in the District experienced lead leaching from their service line during a period from 2001 to 2004. The problem has since been corrected, and in the last four years, following a change in water chemistry, District drinking water has met federal limits for lead and is in full compliance with U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act regulations.
In 2008, DC Water modified its program to replace public lead service lines to encourage property owners to replace the private portion of the lead pipe as well.
DC Water currently replaces lead service lines in the following cases:
- Where a customer is replacing the private portion of a lead service line, at the customer's request, DC Water will replace the public side of the lead line with funds budgeted for this purpose.
- Lead lines in public space (between the main and the property line) will continue to be replaced with copper pipe in conjunction with DC Water's ongoing water main replacement projects. Customers are notified in advance of construction and encouraged to replace the portion of the lead line on private property. With the customer's agreement, DC Water will coordinate and complete the replacement process on both public and private property.