Lead Service Line Replacement: Citywide Childcare Centers

Lead Service Line Replacement: Citywide Childcare Centers is sponsored by City of Philadelphia (with federal funding). This project aims to reduce lead exposure by replacing lead service lines in childcare centers across Philadelphia. This directly supports the mayor's priorities for a safer and cleaner city by improving long-term health outcomes for children and families.

Lead Plumbing & Water Quality – Philadelphia Water Department Lead Plumbing & Water Quality In Philadelphia, lead does not come from our water sources, treatment, or mains that deliver drinking water. If lead is found in water, it comes from a property’s plumbing. Residential service lines are owned by the property owner.

We estimate about 1 in 20 Philadelphia properties may have a lead service line. Daily flushing reduces the chances of lead exposure from plumbing. Water service lines are a potential source of lead While Philadelphia has never used lead for the city’s water mains, the service lines that bring water from the main to customers’ properties may contain lead.

We are working to identify the material(s) of every service line in the city and share that information with the public, so service lines that increase your risk of lead exposure can be replaced.

Locate your property on our map to see what our records show your service line is made of, and what you should do: View the Service Line Map See for yourself: Learn how to check your service line material → Check other plumbing for lead Purchase a lead test kit at a hardware or home improvement store. These kits test what the pipe is made from—not the water inside. Look for an EPA recognized kit.

A licensed and insured plumber can inspect your pipes and other plumbing for lead or steel. Replacing an older brass faucet or valve might reduce the lead in water. Lead can dissolve from plumbing materials into water.

This process is called corrosion. When water sits unused in lead or galvanized pipes a period of 6 or more hours, the pipe can corrode, or wear away. Lead service lines or lead solder can dissolve into the clean water we deliver to your property.

Dissolved lead is not visible. Lead can be hidden in older plumbing work, including: Pipes (including service lines ) Even some plumbing equipment previously labelled as “lead-free” could still contain small amounts of lead. The good news?

PWD’s treatment helps protect your water. Zinc Orthophosphate , added during treatment, forms a protective coating on the inside of pipes. For over 25 years, Philadelphia has successfully used this process to reduce the amount of lead that can dissolve from plumbing into water.

However, different building plumbing systems and usage patterns can affect how well corrosion control works. with no corrosion control with successful corrosion control Learn how we keep your water safe from lead Reducing lead exposure from plumbing Having a lead service line or other plumbing does not necessarily mean your home’s water has high levels of lead.

Corrosion control treatment, performed in Philadelphia for more than 25 years, has been shown to be effective in keeping lead levels in 90% or more of the city’s homes below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard of fifteen parts per billion (15ppb). In addition to replacing lead pipes and plumbing, there are immediate steps you can take to reduce the chances of lead exposure related to water use.

Flush your pipes: Get rid of the water sitting in plumbing. Studies and testing in Philadelphia prove this really works to help get rid of lead! Instrucciones para la limpieza diaria (en español) Instruções para limpeza diária (em português) The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) will conduct free water quality tests for customers with concerns about lead or water quality.

Only use cold water for drinking Use only cold water for cooking and drinking, including preparing baby formula. Hot water can dissolve more metals into your water. Aerators, also called faucet screens, can trap lead, and then release it back into your water over time.

Disassemble and soak screens in vinegar, and then scrub the screens with an old toothbrush. Use a filter that’s certified to reduce lead Use filters certified for lead reduction by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). You must follow all instructions from the manufacturer.

Remember: Boiling water does not reduce lead! Replace lead service lines Homeowner Emergency Loan Program (HELP) The Philadelphia Water Department offers a zero-interest loan for customers interested in replacing a lead service line. See our fact sheet for more information about how the Homeowner Emergency Loan Program (HELP) may be used to replace your lead service line.

Customers can also contact any licensed and insured plumber and request an estimate for replacing lead service lines and other sources of lead in plumbing. Please note that prices vary according to a number of factors, including how far your home’s water meter is from the City water main.

Free removal during water main replacement The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) will offer to replace any lead service line from the City’s water main all the way to the customer’s meter when we are replacing the water main on your block. PWD will notify residents by letter several months before work is scheduled to begin.

Philadelphia takes lead seriously PWD has been working for decades to protect Philadelphians from lead getting into water from plumbing Testing for lead in drinking water in homes In addition to free water quality tests for customers with concerns about lead or water quality, we also perform rounds of sampling for lead to meet government regulations.

Since June 1991, the PWD has tested for lead levels in accordance with the federal Lead and Copper Rule. We share these results with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the public. Recent changes to the guidelines require more sampling and stricter limits.

PWD has been planning for these changes for years, and we are prepared to meet these new requirements. Testing in more schools and childcare facilities Philadelphia has been testing for lead in water at schools for years. See previous results from the School District of Philadelphia → Our new testing program makes more facilities eligible for free sampling, including daycares, charter schools, and private schools.

Learn more about our Schools & Childcares Lead Sampling Program → Identifying lead service lines Even though residential service lines don’t belong to the City of Philadelphia, we are committed to supporting the removal of water service lines that contain lead.

There are also new laws that require every water utility in the United states to collect information about the materials and locations of all service lines, and make that information available to the public. Our records are compiled from multiple sources, including historical records, field inspections, permits, and material tests of one point of the service line during meter upgrades or conservation assistance.

Learn more and view the Service Line Map → During recent meter upgrades, PWD checked the material of the service line near the meter. Contractors conducting the upgrades left information about lead service line materials. Learn more about recent meter upgrades → We have been using a variety of methods to verify more records of service line materials.

We’ve been visiting properties to visually inspect service line materials. Learn more about service line verification inspections → We’re also testing emerging technologies to help categorize more service lines. Our goal is to reduce the number of unknowns over time.

Replacing lead service lines During planned water main construction, we offer to replace any lead service line from our water main all the way to the customer’s meter. This service is offered free of charge. PWD also offers a zero-interest loan for customers interested in replacing a lead service line.

(See HELP information above.) New Service Line Replacement Program Using the records and analysis of the Service Line Map , we are planning a new Service Line Replacement Program. This represents the first time we will be completing this work on properties outside of planned water main construction, or HELP loans requested by customers.

We are leveraging millions of dollars in federal and state funding, including grants. We’re also contributing millions of dollars from PWD’s budget to support this important work. Our first pilot of this program will be in North and West Philadelphia.

Approximately 1,000 lead service lines are budgeted for replacement through this project, planned to begin in 2026. Philadelphia’s Lead Guide provides information about lead in water and other sources, the risks associated with lead, preventing lead exposure, and what the City is doing to protect its residents and visitors, especially children.

Title Resource Type Language Last Updated File Type File Size Bytes Lead Plumbing & Water Quality Fact Sheets Fact Sheets English Nov 2025 pdf 3. 05 MB 3202728 Hojas informativas sobre Plomería con Plomo y Calidad del Agua Fact Sheets Español Nov 2025 pdf 3. 07 MB 3218199