Chicago, IL
Lead service line replacement in Chicago
Updated · Editorial team; not yet technically reviewed
Short answer
In Chicago, you can replace a lead water service line through the city's free Equity program if you qualify by income, get it replaced free if the line breaks or leaks, or hire your own licensed plumber and have the city waive permit fees. Illinois law requires every lead service line in the state to be replaced eventually.
What's different in Chicago
Chicago's Equity Lead Service Line Replacement Program replaces the full line from the water main into the home, paid entirely by the city, for homeowners with incomes below 80% of area median income. The city values the work at $16,000 to $30,000.
Under the Breaks and Leaks program, when a lead service line breaks or leaks, the city replaces both the public and private sides for free. Report it through 311.
If you hire your own licensed contractor to remove a lead line, the Homeowner-Initiated program waives up to $5,000 in permit fees.
Illinois' Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act requires water systems statewide to inventory service lines and replace every lead line on set timelines.
Source: Illinois Environmental Protection Act, 415 ILCS 5/17.12
Which route fits your situation
| Situation | Route | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Income below 80% of area median, own the home | Equity program | Nothing; the city pays for the full replacement |
| The lead line has broken or is leaking | Breaks and Leaks (call 311) | Nothing for the replacement |
| You want it done now and will hire a contractor | Homeowner-Initiated | The contractor's price; up to $5,000 in permit fees waived |
Checking whether your line is lead
Find where the water line enters
Usually through the basement's front wall, just before the meter or main shutoff.
Scratch test
Gently scratch the pipe with a key. Lead is dull gray, soft, and scratches to a shiny silver. Copper looks like a penny; galvanized steel is gray and hard, and a magnet sticks to it.
Check the home's age
The city says a house or two-flat built before 1986 is highly likely to have a lead line unless it was replaced.
What the replacement involves
The new line runs from the water main in the street to the home, usually in copper. Crews dig at the street and at the foundation, and often bore between the two instead of trenching the whole yard. Water is off for part of the day. Afterward, flush the plumbing as instructed, because disturbing a lead line can temporarily raise lead levels.
For how service line work goes anywhere (leak signs, trenchless options, frost depth), see our water line repair guide.
For how water line repair works anywhere (methods, trade-offs and prevention), see our main water line repair guide.
Common questions
Is lead service line replacement free in Chicago?
It can be. The Equity program is free for income-qualified homeowners, and the Breaks and Leaks program replaces a broken or leaking lead line for free. Otherwise you pay your contractor, but the city waives up to $5,000 in permit fees.
Should I filter my water while I wait for replacement?
Many households use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction, especially after work that disturbs the line. See water filtration systems.