Lead Service Line Replacement Program

Use the City of Lincoln Water System's interactive map to look up the status of the service line on your property and determine if it is non-lead, lead, or lead-contaminated galvanized steel. lincoln.ne.gov/WaterServiceLineMap

Lead service lines are found primarily in homes built prior to 1950. But the majority of lead service lines are in homes or businesses constructed before 1930.

Please consider reviewing other City programs at lincoln.ne.gov/LeadSafe that can also help you determine if you have lead in other places in your home.

Homes built before 1950 may have additional lead pipes inside their home. Other sources of lead in home plumbing include lead-contaminated galvanized steel pipes and older brass faucets and fixtures. The City of Lincoln Water System does not keep pipe material records for in-home plumbing.

Related information: Lead in Plumbing or Service Lines

This program replaces water service lines which is the line that connects the water meter or building to the water main. Older homes and buildings may still have lead or lead-contaminated galvanized steel pipes inside the building after replacement work is finished. Older brass faucets and fixtures can also be a source of lead. Older homes and buildings may also have lead paint.

Related information: Lead in Plumbing or Service Lines Lead Safe Lincoln

The City is replacing lead and galvanized water service lines in phases across Lincoln neighborhoods. Property owners do not need to contact the City. Lincoln Water System will notify property owners when contracted plumbers are in their area.

Replacements Completed: Tracts 5, 18 and 20.01

North Bottoms, and portions of Woods Park, Hawley, and Near South neighborhoods.

Replacements In Progress (2025 to 2026): Tracts 20.02 and 22

Portions of Everett, Irvingdale, South Salt Creek, and Near South neighborhoods.

Replacements In Progress (2026 to 2027): Tracts 4, 17 and 21

Clinton, Capitol View, and portions of Hawley, Near South, and South Salt Creek Area neighborhoods. Work is scheduled to begin in spring and summer 2026.

Additional phases will be announced as they are identified.

The City has developed a strategic plan to prioritize the replacement of lead and galvanized service lines across the community by 2035. In alignment with EPA guidance, the City of Lincoln Water System has established criteria to identify priority locations for water service line replacements. Census tract locations will be updated every year on the City website to identify areas of Lincoln replacements will be conducted in.

View Map of Current Work Areas (, 0B)

Criteria to determine priority of service includes:

• Areas where records show a greater density of lead and lead contaminated galvanized steel service lines
• Data showing elevated blood levels of lead in children
• Social vulnerability data
• Risk to lead exposure due to amount of lead in service line

In 2024 through 2025, the City focused on Census tracts 5,18, and 20.01. These areas included the North Bottoms neighborhood, and portions of the Near South, Hawley, and Woods Park neighborhood areas. In 2025 through 2026, the City is focusing on census tracts 20.02 and 22, which include portions of the Everett, Near South, Irvingdale, and South Salt Creek Area neighborhoods through 2026. Beginning in summer of 2026 and continuing through 2027, the program will focus on census tracts 21, 17, and 4, which include additional areas in the South Salt Creek Area, Near South, and Hawley neighborhoods, as well as including the Clinton and Capitol View neighborhoods. Replacements for censust tract 8, are scheduled for 2027 through 2028, and include portions of the Hartley and East Campus neighborhoods. Additional future tracts will be identified every year and put on this website.

View Map of Current Work Areas (, 0B)

No. Business properties in the selected census tracks will receive lead or galvanized pipe replacements at no cost to them.

The Lead Safe Lincoln Water Service Line Replacement Program is a thorough program that will take several years to replace all lead and lead-contaminated galvanized service lines in homes and businesses in Lincoln. The City is unable to reimburse property owners for service line replacements who choose to replace their lines before the City contacts them to conduct a replacement. The program must follow federal funding requirements which include using only plumbers contracted with the City for this program.

The City of Lincoln Water System developed this program with the goal of replacing all customer lead water service lines as proposed by the Lead Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which has a target for all replacement to be completed by 2035. The timeline for completion of the program is dependent on resource availability, which includes plumbing contractors as well as ongoing funding, which is unknown at the current time.

The City of Lincoln Water System will have a plan in place to replace the grass with grass seed. Water team members will review tree locations to see if a service line can go around the tree. Some tree removals may be required. This cost would be paid for by the City if there was no other option to replace the current service line. If sprinkler systems are affected in the process of replacing a lead service line, the contractor may be responsible for repair. Property owners will receive a $100 credit to their water bills for cosmetic repairs like painting or fencing, etc. once they complete the replacement.

A water service line replacement is estimated to take a single day (8 hours) to conduct. However, there may be times when the contractor may need access to the property before the replacement takes place. There are also some cases where a contractor may find unexpected challenges around the pipes. This may extend the replacement effort to more than one day.

Typically, the water is shut off for less than two hours.

The City of Lincoln Water System will request access to your home an estimated one to two times to visually inspect and verify service line plumbing material, water meter location, and conduct the lead service line replacement. They may request additional access if they find unexpected challenges that may extend the time it takes to complete the replacement.

• Receive a letter from the City of Lincoln Water System notifying you that your water service line is included in the City’s service line replacement program.
• Submit a photograph of your service line near your water meter using the information sent to you in the mail.
• Sign the form to allow the City’s licensed plumber to work on your property.
• Allow the City’s plumber access to your home or business to inspect and replace your service line.

Call the City of Lincoln Water System at 402-441-7571 option 2 about this situation. We will investigate.

Please review the City’s water quality website for information on lead, lead programs, and ways homeowners can protect themselves from lead exposure.

Related information: Lead Awareness Information on how to identify lead in plumbing or service lines, how to reduce lead exposure, health effects of lead and more Submit Your Contact Information Updating your contact information helps the Lead Safe Lincoln team contact you when the Lead Service Line Replacement Program begins work in your area.

• Lead is a toxic metal that can harm a child’s health.
• Children can be exposed to lead by breathing or swallowing lead or lead dust. In children, lead exposure can cause brain and nervous system damage, learning and behavior problems, slowed growth and development and hearing and speech issues. Even low levels of lead can affect a child’s ability to learn, pay attention and do well in school.
• A blood lead test is the best way to find out if a child has lead poisoning. A child with lead poisoning may not have visible signs or symptoms. Many children who have lead poisoning look and act healthy. Parents can talk to their child’s healthcare provider about getting a blood lead test if they’re concerned their child may have been exposed to lead.