Milwaukee, WI
Lead service line replacement in Milwaukee
Updated · Editorial team; not yet technically reviewed
Short answer
Milwaukee requires a lead service line to be replaced in full, from the water main to the meter, when either side leaks or fails or when the city replaces the public side during main or street work. Homeowners of one- to four-unit buildings once paid about a third of the private-side cost, capped near $1,600; the Common Council voted to drop that share, using federal infrastructure money passed through the Wisconsin DNR.
What's different in Milwaukee
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 225-22.5 requires full replacement of a lead service line with copper, both the city-owned part from the main to the curb stop and the customer-owned part from the curb stop to the meter. [1]
Replacement is triggered when a leak or failure is found on either side, or when the city replaces its section during water main replacement or before road reconstruction. [1]
Milwaukee is working through roughly 70,000 lead service lines, about 66,000 of them residential. [2]
Owners of buildings with four or fewer units used to pay one-third of the private-side cost, averaging just under $1,600; the Common Council voted to eliminate that charge, with the city covering it through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds administered by the Wisconsin DNR. [2]
When Milwaukee requires a replacement
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| The lead line leaks or fails on your side | Both sides must be replaced with copper; partial repairs aren't allowed |
| The public side leaks or fails | Same: full replacement from main to meter |
| The city replaces the water main or rebuilds the street | The lead line is replaced as part of the project |
| Your property is on the city's priority list | Milwaukee Water Works contacts you with next steps |
Checking your address
Look up the city's record
Milwaukee Water Works publishes a service line records map: enter your address to see the material on file for your property.
Confirm at the meter
Where the line enters the basement, lead is dull gray, soft and scratches to shiny silver; copper looks like a penny.
Ask about priority
Properties prioritized for replacement are contacted by the utility; call Milwaukee Water Works if you're unsure where you stand.
Why partial replacement isn't allowed
Cutting a lead line and replacing only one side can shake loose lead particles and leave a lead section joined to copper, which can raise lead levels for a time. Replacing the whole line in one job avoids that. After any work on your line, flush the plumbing as instructed. For leaks, frost depth and replacement methods anywhere, see water line repair.
What Milwaukee homeowners usually check next
- SymptomSigns of a hidden leak
- SymptomWater bill suddenly high
- SymptomNo water in the house
Common questions
Do I have to replace my lead service line in Milwaukee?
Yes, when it leaks or fails, or when the city replaces the public side during main or street work. The ordinance requires the full line, both sides, to be replaced with copper.
What does a Milwaukee homeowner pay to replace a lead line now?
The Common Council voted to eliminate the homeowner share for one- to four-unit buildings, which had averaged just under $1,600, with the city covering it using federal infrastructure funds. Confirm the current terms with Milwaukee Water Works before work starts.
How do I look up my Milwaukee service line material?
Use Milwaukee Water Works' service line records map and enter your address. You can also check the pipe where it enters your basement.
Can I use a private contractor instead of Milwaukee's program?
Ask Milwaukee Water Works first. The city coordinates full replacements so both sides are done together, and working through the program affects what you pay.
How many lead lines does Milwaukee have?
About 70,000, roughly 66,000 of them serving homes.
Why won't Milwaukee replace only the city's side?
Partial replacement can temporarily increase lead in drinking water, so the ordinance requires the whole line to be replaced at once.
Should I use a water filter in Milwaukee while I wait?
If your home has a lead line, a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction is a sensible precaution for drinking and cooking water, especially after nearby construction.
What happens on replacement day in Milwaukee?
Crews typically dig at the curb stop and near the foundation and install new copper between the main and your meter, with water off while the connection is made. Ask Milwaukee Water Works how long your shutoff will last, and follow the flushing instructions afterward.
Does a leak on my side force a replacement right away?
A leak or failure on a lead line triggers full replacement under the ordinance, so call Milwaukee Water Works to arrange it rather than patching the pipe.
Who repairs interior plumbing after the new line is installed?
Interior work, such as a failing main shutoff valve or old galvanized pipe inside the house, is done by a licensed plumber you hire. See repiping.
More plumbing help in Milwaukee
- Sewer Backup in MilwaukeeWhy Milwaukee basements back up in storms, the downspout disconnection rule in the combined sewer area, MMSD's Pipe Check incentives, and city lateral programs.
- 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 MilwaukeeLocal water, housing and climate conditions, and the calls Milwaukee 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 CincinnatiHow Greater Cincinnati Water Works replaces private lead service lines: who pays, who gets priority, how long the program runs, and how to get started.
- 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.
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- 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.