Cincinnati, OH
Lead service line replacement in Cincinnati
Updated · Editorial team; not yet technically reviewed
Short answer
Greater Cincinnati Water Works replaces lead service lines under city ordinances passed in 2016 and 2017, which set out to replace an estimated 39,000 privately owned lead lines over about 15 years. Since December 2021, GCWW has covered the full cost from the street to the meter, and homes with a pregnant resident or children under 6 get priority.
What's different in Cincinnati
Cincinnati City Council ordinances in 2016 and 2017 set a goal of replacing an estimated 39,000 privately owned lead service lines over a 15-year period, carried out through GCWW's Enhanced Lead Program. [1]
Since December 2021, Greater Cincinnati Water Works covers the full cost of replacing a lead service line from the street to the meter. [2]
Households with a pregnant person or children under 6 receive priority for replacement. [2]
GCWW received a $500,000 Ohio EPA grant to replace lead service lines at child care facilities at no cost to providers. [3]
Who pays for what
| Part of the line | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Public side (main to curb) | Greater Cincinnati Water Works |
| Private side (street to meter) | GCWW covers the full cost since December 2021 |
| Interior plumbing past the meter | The property owner |
Getting your line replaced
Check your line
Look where the water line enters the basement: lead is dull gray and scratches to shiny silver. GCWW can also tell you what its records show.
Contact GCWW's lead program
Call the Enhanced Lead Program at 513-651-LEAD (5323) and mention if a pregnant person or child under 6 lives in the home.
Sign the property owner agreement
Crews need permission to work on the private side. Renters should ask their landlord to enroll.
Flush after replacement
Follow the flushing instructions you're given, because disturbing a lead line can briefly raise lead levels.
Beyond the service line
A new service line won't fix lead solder or old fixtures inside the house, or galvanized pipe that has collected lead. If your home is old enough to have a lead service line, it's worth having interior pipe checked too. For leaks and replacement methods anywhere, see water line repair.
What Cincinnati homeowners usually check next
- SymptomSigns of a hidden leak
- SymptomWater bill suddenly high
- SymptomNo water in the house
Common questions
Does Greater Cincinnati Water Works charge to replace a lead line?
For the line itself, yes: since December 2021 Greater Cincinnati Water Works covers the full cost from the street to the meter. Interior plumbing past the meter is the owner's responsibility.
How do I sign up for GCWW lead line replacement?
Call GCWW's Enhanced Lead Program at 513-651-LEAD (5323). The property owner needs to sign an agreement so crews can work on the private side.
Who gets priority for lead line replacement in Cincinnati?
Homes with a pregnant resident or children under 6 are prioritized.
How many lead lines does Cincinnati have?
City ordinances estimated about 39,000 privately owned lead service lines when the program began in 2016.
How long will Cincinnati's lead program take?
The ordinances set a 15-year horizon starting in 2016. Your street's timing depends on GCWW's schedule and priority rules.
I rent in Cincinnati. Can I get my lead line replaced?
The property owner must authorize the work, so ask your landlord to contact GCWW. In the meantime, consider a filter certified for lead.
Does GCWW replace lead lines at day cares?
Yes. An Ohio EPA grant of $500,000 funds no-cost replacements at child care facilities.
Does the program cover lead plumbing inside my house?
No. It covers the service line to the meter. Interior pipes, solder and fixtures need a licensed plumber; see repiping.
What should I do about drinking water before replacement?
Use cold water for drinking and cooking, run the tap after water sits for hours, and consider a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead.
Do Cincinnati suburbs on GCWW water qualify?
GCWW serves areas beyond the city limits. Ask GCWW whether its program applies at your address.
More plumbing help in Cincinnati
- Sewer Backup in CincinnatiHow MSD of Greater Cincinnati's Sewer Backup (SBU) program works: 24/7 reporting, cleanup for public-sewer backups, and free backup prevention devices.
- 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 CincinnatiLocal water, housing and climate conditions, and the calls Cincinnati homes need most.
How other cities handle it
- Lead service line replacement in ChicagoHow lead water service line replacement works in Chicago: free and fee-waived city programs, who qualifies, what state law requires, and what the job involves.
- Lead service line replacement in DetroitHow Detroit and Michigan law handle lead water service line replacement: who pays, full-line requirements, timelines, and what homeowners should do meanwhile.
- Lead service line replacement in DenverHow Denver Water replaces customer-owned lead service lines with copper at no direct cost, which homes are most likely affected, and what to do while you wait.
- Lead service line replacement in MilwaukeeHow Milwaukee's lead service line rules work: when full replacement is required, what homeowners pay, how to look up your address, and what to do while you wait.
- Lead service line replacement in PittsburghPittsburgh Water lead line programs: neighborhood replacements, free income-qualified replacement, plumber reimbursement, and how to apply.
- Lead service line replacement in BostonHow Boston Water and Sewer Commission's free lead service replacement works: free inspection, free replacement, how to check your address, and what to expect.
- Lead service line replacement in ClevelandWhen Cleveland Water replaces your side of a lead line for free, how galvanized pipe is handled, yearly targets, and what to do next.
- Lead service line replacement in St. LouisSt. Louis lead service lines: the city's inventory, why rates can't pay for the private side, grant and loan help, and what owners can do now.
- Lead service line replacement in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia lead service lines: owner responsibility, free replacement during main work, the free ZIP-code pilot, and 0% HELP loans.
- Water and sewer service line repair in New York CityNYC owners own their water and sewer service lines: DEP 3-day and 30-day notices, the licensed master plumber rule, permits and the $1,000 shutoff fee.
- Water and sewer line repair in New OrleansWho pays for water and sewer service connections in New Orleans: Sewerage and Water Board rules, owner responsibility on post-1954 lots, and Board-caused damage.
- Water service line repair in Kansas CityKC Water service line rules: the City maintains mains to the curb box, owners repair from the curb stop to the house under Ordinance 78-22, and warranty options.
- Lead water service line replacement in Washington, DCLead service lines in Washington, DC: who pays for each side, Block-by-Block replacement of the private side at no cost, and what to do before your block comes up.
- Lead service line replacement in ProvidenceLead service lines in Providence: Providence Water's free private-side replacement for eligible customers, 10-year 0% loans, and the free public-side match.
- Lead service line replacement in Des MoinesLead service lines in Des Moines: Des Moines Water Works' free replacement funded by a $52.6M state loan, the Drake first phase, and how to check your line.
- Water line leaks in Phoenix: the meter decides who paysWater line leaks in Phoenix: the city repairs the street side of the meter, the owner the rest, and city code makes customers pay for water lost past the meter.
- Water and sewer service lines in CharlotteCharlotte water and sewer service lines: Charlotte Water handles mains to the curb, owners handle the laterals from curb to home, and what that means for leaks.
- Water line leaks in AustinWater line leaks in Austin: Austin Water owns the line to the meter box near the sidewalk, owners own everything past it.
- Water service line leaks in BuffaloBuffalo water service lines: the line from the city main to the house is private, the owner keeps up the curb box and valve, and what Buffalo Water will do for free.
- Lead service lines in Newark after the replacement programNewark 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.
- Lead service line replacement 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 service line repair in SeattleSeattle water lines: owners install and maintain the private line from the city union to the house, and how SPU's leak adjustments treat city-side and.
- Water service lines in Fort WorthFort Worth service lines: the city owns the line to and including the meter, owners own the rest, the lead inventory shows no lead lines.
- Houston water service lines: the inventory and 'unknown material' lettersHouston's service line inventory: no lead lines found so far, most lines still listed as unknown, the notices sent to customers, and how to check yours.
- Dallas water service lines and the service line inventoryDallas Water Utilities' service line inventory: how materials were identified, letters to 225,000 unknown lines, and the GIS lookup.
- Water service lines in Los Angeles: no lead foundLADWP's service line inventory found no lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement lines, including customer-owned ones. What that means for LA water line repairs.
- Water service lines in San Antonio: SAWS inventory and free inspectionsSAWS's service line inventory: over half of 600,000 lines unidentified, yearly letters to unknown, lead or galvanized lines, and free inspections for pre-1989 homes.
Sources (3)
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Safe and Healthy Water brief: Cincinnati, OH (June 2022) · checked 2026-10-03
- WVXU, Water Works grants to replace lead lines for pregnant people and kids · checked 2026-10-03
- City of Cincinnati, GCWW Awarded Grant by Ohio EPA · checked 2026-10-03