Detroit, MI
Lead service line replacement in Detroit
Updated · Editorial team; not yet technically reviewed
Short answer
Detroit replaces lead water service lines at no cost to property owners, working neighborhood by neighborhood. Michigan's Lead and Copper Rule requires the whole line, from the main to the home, to be replaced by the water system, and bans partial replacements.
What's different in Detroit
Michigan's 2018 Lead and Copper Rule makes community water systems responsible for replacing the entire lead service line from the main to the home, including costs, and bans partial replacements.
Water systems in Michigan must replace an average of 5% of their lead service lines each year, finishing within 20 years (by 2041) unless EGLE approves another schedule.
Detroit replaces lead lines both during water main projects and one by one, starting with the most vulnerable neighborhoods, funded by state and federal grants.
Source: City of Detroit, DWSD Lead Service Line Replacement Program
What to do while you wait
- Find out whether your line is lead: check where the line enters the basement (lead is dull gray and scratches to shiny silver), or ask DWSD what it has on record.
- Use cold water for drinking and cooking, and run the tap after water has sat for hours.
- Consider a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead. See water filtration systems.
- Don't pay a private contractor for a partial replacement. Michigan bans partial replacements, and cutting a lead line can raise lead levels.
Replacement day
Crews typically excavate at the curb and near the foundation, pull or bore the new line between them, and connect it inside at the meter. Water is shut off for part of the day. Afterward, follow the flushing instructions you're given.
For general service line problems such as leaks, trenchless options and frost depth, see water line repair.
For how water line repair works anywhere (methods, trade-offs and prevention), see our main water line repair guide.
Common questions
Do I have to pay to replace my lead service line in Detroit?
No. DWSD replaces lead service lines at no cost to property owners, and Michigan rules make water systems responsible for replacing the full line.
How long until my Detroit street gets replaced?
DWSD works neighborhood by neighborhood and estimates about 10 years for the whole city, prioritizing the most vulnerable areas. Check the DWSD program page for your area's schedule.