What’s New With LFDC: Growing Our Impact Across the District

Summer is underway, and Lead Free DC (LFDC) continues to expand its impact across the District. That growth includes accelerating replacements, expanded resources, and a continued focus on listening to residents.

Replacing More Lead Pipes Across Every Ward

Our Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) summary report is live and highlights continued acceleration in Lead Free DC’s work. In FY25, LFDC completed more than 3,100 lead service line replacements—a 40%+ increase over the previous year—reflecting increased activity across every ward.

These results build on the steady progress made since the program began, including crossing the milestone of completing more than 12,000 lead service line replacements. Since 2019, the program has also helped deliver an estimated $33 million in savings to customers through free and discounted replacements, helping more homeowners remove lead pipes at little to no cost.

New Resources to Help You Learn About Lead

Looking for trusted, District-specific information about lead? Check out the new Lead Resource Hub with resources from DC Health, DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), and DC Water including our interactive Lead Map and guide to minimizing lead exposure.

Tell Us About Your Replacement Experience. If your lead water line is being replaced, please tell us about your experience. We want to know about every aspect of your replacement process, what went well, and even what went wrong. This helps us to know what works and ways we can improve the experience for customers in the future. 

Here’s what to expect:

1. Within about 2-3 weeks of your lead service line replacement, you’ll receive an email from leadfreedc@dcwater.com with a link to the survey.
2. It takes about five minutes to complete.

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Table of Contents

• At A Glance: Restored and Reconnected on Grant Street NE
• Before We Dig: A Guide to Test Pit Markings
• Post-Replacement Flushing 101: A Fresh Start After Your Lead Pipe Replacement 
• Fresh Faces: Meet Our Newest Outreach Team Members
• Join LFDC This Fall at Upcoming Events!
• Stay Connected
• We Want To Hear From You
• DC Water Lead Website­­­­­

At A Glance: Restored and Reconnected on Grant Street NE

Every year, neighborhoods across the District eagerly await warmer months. For some, spring marks the point when their Lead Free DC construction crew returns. During warmer weather, the ground and road thaws, allowing restoration work on yards and streets paused during winter to be completed. 

That was the case for residents on the 4200 block of Grant NE. Crews began work in October and by the end of November, DC Water contractors successfully replaced all lead service lines on the block. By the time the work was completed, cold and freezing temperatures had set in.

Typically, restoration follows the final lead service line replacement on a block. However, winter conditions made activities like grass seeding and paving impractical. That’s because roads need temperatures to be warm enough for asphalt to set properly.  Also, plantings and seeding can fail to take root or die due to frost or freezing temperatures. Instead, crews filled in holes and put down protective ground cover in disturbed areas to bridge the winter months. Roads and sidewalks were also temporarily patched.

The following spring, crews returned and continued restoration work through early summer. They poured new concrete for sidewalks, repaired curbs with stone or concrete, repaved roads, seeded grassy areas, and addressed other areas affected during construction.

As Lead Free DC continues our work, blocks like Grant Street NE reflect our commitment to removing all lead service lines from the District and partnering hand-in-hand with customers to restore their neighborhoods when construction is complete.

Interested in how restoration work could affect your garden? Check out the recording of our recent webinar: Losing Lead Without Losing Your Yard.

The above photos (from left to right) show: The 4200 block of Grant Street NE before an LSL replacement with utility markings. The same property after an LSL replacement with a temporary patch on the impacted property. And finally, repavement of the impacted roadway, concluding the full restoration process. 

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Before We Dig: A Guide to Test Pit Markings

May brings fresh flowers, and more lead service line (LSL) replacements. As DC Water’s contractors begin to prepare for construction, you’ll see signs that Lead Free DC (LFDC) is coming to your block. You may receive a construction notice in the mail, door hangers, and you may notice colored paint markings or small flags on streets, sidewalks, or lawns. 

These temporary markings show where underground utilities may be located throughout the block, even if only a few homes are scheduled right now. This step is required before LFDC crews begin digging. It protects you, your neighbors, and other utility lines.

After the area is marked, crews will first dig at the property line to confirm if the water pipe is lead. They dig at the property line to get the best visibility and indication of whether the pipe is lead on both the public and private side of the property. (Want a quick visual? Watch this short video about test pit inspections).

While DC Water’s LFDC contractors do not dig test pits on private property, it’s important to note that the property line may cut through the middle of your yard, or even close to your front door. As a result, temporary utility markings may appear on your grass or flower beds.

We know this can be surprising, especially when it’s close to your home. Please keep an eye out for signs of construction in your neighborhood and reach out to Lead Free DC (lead@dcwater.com, 202-787-4044) if you have concerns about where we may be digging. 

We appreciate your patience and support in removing all lead service lines from the District.

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Post-Replacement Flushing 101: A Fresh Start After Your Lead Pipe Replacement

After a lead service line replacement, flushing your plumbing is a simple and critical step that helps protect your household from lead exposure. Lead particles remain in your plumbing after your replacement, and flushing helps clear them out, so your water is ready for everyday use.
Not sure where to start? Keep an eye out for your post-replacement flushing kit, which is delivered by a Lead Free DC (LFDC) representative after your replacement is complete. It includes a pipe flushing kit with step-by-step instructions.

When your time comes, don't hesitate to ask for help. You can call or email Lead Free DC with questions and use our video as a helpful visual guide alongside the written instructions.
 

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Fresh Faces: Meet Our Newest Outreach Team Members

As Lead Free DC’s (LFDC) work continues to expand this summer, a new class of Community Activators joined the outreach team. These fresh faces help LFDC connect with more residents across the District while gaining hands-on experience that supports long-term career growth.

Community Activators are District residents trained through a partnership between the Department of Employment Services (DOES) and DC Water. Each year, the program invites participants to work alongside the LFDC outreach team for a full year, building office, communication, and customer engagement skills while supporting the program’s day-to-day work. The role provides many Activators with valuable experience that helps them obtain full-time jobs, and the LFDC team often hires employees from among those who complete the program.

You may recognize members of this newest class as they knock on doors in your neighborhood, support pop-up events, or reach out by phone or email to share information about replacement options and next steps.

As lead service line replacement work grows, adding skilled team members is essential to the program’s success. Community Activators play a key role in keeping residents informed, supporting coordination across teams, and ensuring that every interaction reflects LFDC’s commitment to clear communication and community trust.

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Join LFDC This Fall at Upcoming Events!

Lead Free DC gives presentations and attends District events to share information about lead service line replacements all over DC! Stop by any of the below events to learn more about our programs, how to get a free lead service line replacement, and to ask questions.

If your organization would like Lead Free DC to join an event or give a presentation, please reach out to Sean Moore at sean.moore@dcwater.com.

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Stay Connected with Lead Free DC

Stay connected with us on social media for instant updates, engaging conversations, exclusive content, and event announcements. Your support and engagement on platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram help us to build community around our efforts and play a crucial role in our mission to create a lead-free DC. Let's build a community committed to clean water and a healthier environment. 

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We Want to Hear From You

Send us your thoughts and feedback on the program at lead@dcwater.com. We value your input!

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DC Water.com Lead Website

Curious to learn more about our Lead Free DC program? Visit our website at dcwater.com/lead to dive deeper into our initiatives and explore how we're working towards a lead free future.

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Contact + Resources

- Visit dcwater.com/lead for replacement information
- Questions? Contact LFDC Customer Service:  lead@dcwater.com or  202-787-4044
- Follow us on social media @DCWater for project updates and videos

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