New Jersey · statewide
Lead and galvanized service line replacement in New Jersey
Updated · Editorial team; not yet technically reviewed
Short answer
New Jersey's P.L.2021, c.183 requires community water systems to inventory and replace every lead service line, and to resolve every line of unknown material, by July 22, 2031. Systems must average at least 10% a year, partial replacements are banned, and galvanized lines count as lead lines under the law.
What New Jersey requires or changes
P.L.2021, c.183 requires community water systems to identify all lead service lines, notify the public, and replace all of them. [1]
Systems must replace all known lead service lines and address all lines of unknown material by July 22, 2031, at an annual average of at least 10%, with a possible extension of up to five years. [1]
The law bans partial lead service line replacements. [1]
The law's definition of a lead service line includes galvanized service lines. [1]
Why galvanized pipe is on the list
Galvanized steel lines that sat downstream of lead pipe can hold lead in their corroded interior and release it later. Counting them as lead lines means many New Jersey homes with no lead pipe at all are still due for replacement. If your line is gray, rough and threaded at the joints, ask your water system how it's recorded.
What owners should do now
- Find your address in your water system's posted service line inventory.
- If your line is lead, galvanized or unknown, ask when your street is scheduled and what you'll pay, if anything.
- Don't hire a plumber to replace only your side; partial replacements are banned, so coordinate with the utility.
- Until replacement, flush cold water after it sits and use a certified filter. See the lead service line guide.
Further reading: How to tell what your pipes are made of.
Common questions
When must New Jersey lead service lines be replaced?
By July 22, 2031, with a possible extension of up to five years.
How fast must New Jersey water systems replace lead lines?
At an annual average of at least 10% of their lead lines.
Are galvanized pipes covered by New Jersey's lead law?
Yes. The law's definition of a lead service line includes galvanized lines.
Can I replace just my side of a lead line in New Jersey?
No. Partial replacements are banned, so the work must be coordinated with your water system.
What happens to New Jersey lines of unknown material?
Systems must identify and address them by the same 2031 deadline.
Where do I find my New Jersey service line material?
In your water system's service line inventory, which must be published.
Which New Jersey law requires lead line replacement?
P.L.2021, chapter 183, signed in July 2021.
Who pays for New Jersey lead line replacement?
It varies by water system and funding; ask yours, since many use grants and low-cost loans.
Is New Jersey tap water unsafe if I have a lead line?
Lead can leach when water sits; flush and filter until the line is replaced, and ask about testing.
How can I tell a galvanized service line from copper?
Galvanized is gray steel with threaded joints; copper is reddish brown, and a magnet sticks only to steel.
Water Line Repair across New Jersey
- Water Line Repair in NewarkNewark replaced its 18,720-plus lead service lines at no cost to residents, funded by city and Essex County bonds. What's left to check in an older Newark home.
- Water Line Repair in Jersey CityJersey City's Lead Free JC: about 16,000 lead lines to replace by June 2031 at no direct cost, JCMUA contractors or your own with a credit, and the inventory lookup.
- Water Line Repair: the full guideSigns the water service line from the meter to your house is leaking, who owns it, repair vs. replacement, lead lines, and trenchless options.
- Plumbing in New JerseyNew Jersey's plumbing code, licensing, climate and the cities we cover.
The same service in other states
- Lead service line replacement in MichiganMichigan's Lead and Copper Rule: water systems replace lead lines at 5% a year over 20 years, replace the full line at their expense, and no partial replacements.
- Lead service line replacement in IllinoisIllinois' lead line law: inventories, notice before work, no partial replacements, and deadlines from 2042 to 2077 by system size.
Sources (1)
- NJDEP, Guidance for Developing a Lead Service Line Replacement Plan · checked 2026-10-03