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News for homeowners · October 7, 2026

Lead pipe replacement: what EPA's 10-year rule means for your home

Water systems must replace lead service lines within 10 years under EPA's 2024 rule. Here is how to find out if your home has one, and what to do meanwhile.

In October 2024 EPA finalized the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements. Under it, most water systems must replace lead service lines within 10 years, and the lead action level drops from 15 to 10 micrograms per liter. Here is what that means at home.

Who is affected

EPA says lead pipes are more likely in older cities and in homes built before 1986, and where a lead service line connects the home to the water main, it is typically the biggest source of lead in drinking water. EPA and CDC agree there is no known safe level of lead in a child’s blood.

Step 1: ask your water utility

Regulated water systems completed initial inventories of their lead service lines in October 2024 and must keep them updated, according to EPA. Your utility can tell you what its records show for your address – and whether its replacement program covers the private side of the line. If it has no information, EPA suggests asking a licensed plumber.

Step 2: lower your exposure now

  • Run the tap, shower or do a load of laundry or dishes before drinking, to flush standing water (EPA).
  • Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and baby formula. Boiling does not remove lead.
  • Use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction, change cartridges as directed, and never run hot water through it.

Step 3: plan the replacement

Replacement is usually coordinated between the utility and a licensed plumber. Ask the plumber whether a permit is needed, whether the work ties into the utility’s program, and whether old faucets and fixtures should be replaced at the same time. Our lead pipes guide has more detail.

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Related guides

Lead pipes and lead in water: how to check and what to doHomes built before 1986, especially in older cities, may have lead pipes or a lead service line. Here is how to find out and how to lower your exposure in the meantime.Hard water and water softeners: what to knowWhite crust on faucets, spotty dishes and soap that will not lather are signs of hard water. Here is how hardness is measured and what a softener does.Bathroom and kitchen remodel plumbing: permits, pipes and fixturesA remodel is the best chance to fix what is inside the walls. Here is when the plumbing needs a permit, which old pipes are worth replacing, and how to choose fixtures.

Sources

  1. EPA – Lead and Copper Rule Improvements fact sheet (PDF)
  2. EPA – Basic information about lead in drinking water
  3. EPA – Reduce your risk from lead using water filters (PDF)
  4. CDC – About lead in drinking water

Published October 7, 2026 by the Plumbers Pages editorial team. General information, not professional advice. More from the blog · Editorial policy

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