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Lead Service Line Replacement in South Jersey
What the letter means, who is responsible for which part of the pipe, and how to get your line replaced on your schedule instead of waiting for someone else's.
What the 2021 New Jersey law requires.
In July 2021, New Jersey passed P.L.2021, c.183. The law requires every community water system in the state to do three things: identify every lead service line in its system, notify the customers who have one, and replace all lead service lines by 2031.
That deadline is on the water utilities, not on homeowners. Nobody is going to fine you for having a lead line in 2026. But the law is the reason your water company is sending letters now, and it is the reason the question of who replaces the part of the pipe on your property has come up.
A service line is the pipe that carries water from the main under the street into your house. Lead was common for these lines through the first half of the twentieth century, and some towns kept using it longer. Over time, lead can dissolve or flake into drinking water, which is why the state wants every one of them out of the ground.
For the official details, see the NJDEP Division of Water Supply & Geoscience lead service line information.
What your letter means.
Utilities sort every service line into one of a few categories based on their records and field checks. Your letter should say which one applies to your address:
- Lead — the utility's records or an inspection show the line, or part of it, is made of lead.
- Galvanized Requiring Replacement (GRR) — the line is galvanized steel that is or may have been downstream of lead pipe. Galvanized pipe can trap lead particles and release them later.
- Unknown — there is no documented record of what the line is made of.
Under New Jersey law, a galvanized service line is treated as a lead service line. That surprises a lot of people, because galvanized steel is not lead. But galvanized pipe that has carried water through lead fittings or connections can hold onto that lead, so the state requires it to be replaced too. Many South Jersey homes built in the 1950s, '60s and '70s have galvanized lines, so a GRR letter is common in neighborhoods from that era.
"Unknown" is not a verdict either way. It just means nobody wrote down what was installed. The quickest way to find out is a small test pit at the curb stop, where we expose the line and look at it directly. If it turns out to be copper or plastic, that is good news, and you can pass the result to your utility so they can update their records.
Who owns which part of the line.
A service line is usually split into two parts. The system side runs from the water main under the street to the curb stop, a shutoff valve typically located near the property line. That part generally belongs to the water utility.
The private side runs from the curb stop (or property line) to your house. That part generally belongs to the property owner. When a utility says it will replace "its side," it means the section between the main and the curb stop. The pipe under your yard, walkway, or driveway is usually yours.
The exact split can vary by utility and by where the meter sits, so check how your water company defines it. If your meter is in a pit near the street rather than in the basement, for example, the dividing point may be different.
Who pays for replacement?
The honest answer is that it depends on your water company.
Publicly owned utilities, such as a municipal water department or authority, may handle the private side in one of two ways: pass the cost of replacing it to the individual homeowner, or spread it across all ratepayers. Investor-owned utilities, the private companies that serve much of South Jersey, cannot bill individual homeowners for it and instead spread the cost through rates.
So the first step is simple: call your water company and ask whether they are replacing the private side at your address, and when. If they are covering it, great. Let them do it. If you are responsible for the private side, or you do not want to wait for the utility to reach your street, we can do it now.
We do not quote prices without seeing the property. The things that drive the cost of a private-side replacement are:
- Length of the line from the curb stop to the house
- Depth of the line and soil conditions
- Whether it crosses a driveway, sidewalk, or patio
- Trenchless pull versus open trench
- How much lawn, walkway, or paving needs restoration
Every estimate we give is free and in writing, so you know what you are agreeing to before any work starts.
Why the utility can't just replace their half.
It seems like the utility could simply replace its section and leave yours for later. New Jersey guidance generally does not allow that.
Partial replacement, swapping out only one side of a line that contains lead, can disturb the remaining lead pipe and temporarily raise lead levels in the water. So if both sides contain lead and the property owner does not agree to replace the private side, the utility generally cannot replace only its side, except in emergencies such as a break.
That is why homeowner action matters. Your decision about the private side can determine whether the whole line comes out. Signing the utility's access or consent form, or replacing your side yourself, keeps the project moving.
Our process.
- 01
Free assessment and test pit
We look at what your utility's records say, check the pipe where it enters the house, and dig a small test pit at the curb stop to see the buried line and confirm the material. You get a free written estimate based on what we actually find.
- 02
Permits and utility coordination
We pull the town permits and coordinate with your water utility, including any notice they need and how their side will be handled. You do not have to play phone tag between agencies.
- 03
Excavation or trenchless pull
Depending on soil, depth, and what sits on top of the line, we either open a narrow trench or pull the new copper or other approved line through trenchlessly from pit to pit.
- 04
Connection and pressure test
The new line is connected at the curb stop and at the house, then pressure tested before anything is buried.
- 05
Photo documentation
We photograph both connections with at least 18 inches of pipe visible, per NJ guidance, so you and your utility have a clear record that the line was replaced and what it was replaced with.
- 06
Restoration
We backfill, compact, and restore the lawn, walkway, or driveway we disturbed, as part of the same job and the same estimate.
We handle the excavation and service line; the connection inside your home is completed by our licensed plumbing partner, coordinated under one schedule and one estimate.
Selling your home?
Lead and galvanized service lines are showing up more often in home inspections and disclosure discussions. If a buyer's inspector flags your line, or your utility's inventory lists your address as lead, GRR, or unknown, it can become a negotiating point late in the sale.
If you are buying, it is worth asking the seller or the water company about the line material before you close. If you are selling, replacing the private side ahead of time takes the question off the table.
Tell us your closing date when you call. We will confirm the material, give you a written estimate you can share with the other side, and schedule the work and permits around your timeline. Photo documentation of the finished connections gives buyers and lenders a clear record.
Is my water safe in the meantime?
We are contractors, not health professionals, so we will not tell you whether your water is safe to drink. Your utility's letter should include specific instructions, and those come first. Common recommendations include:
- Run cold water for a few minutes before using it if it has been sitting for hours
- Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula
- Clean faucet aerators regularly
- Consider a filter certified to remove lead
For health questions, including whether to have your water or your family tested, contact your water utility or your local health department.
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Related services.
Towns we serve.
- Cherry Hill, NJ
- Voorhees, NJ
- Marlton, NJ
- Haddonfield, NJ
- Moorestown, NJ
- Mount Laurel, NJ
- Medford, NJ
- Collingswood, NJ
- Camden, NJ
- Gloucester Township, NJ
- Washington Township, NJ
- Sicklerville, NJ
- Berlin, NJ
- Maple Shade, NJ
- All Service Areas ↗
Common questions, honest answers.
Start with your water company. Every community water system in New Jersey has to keep an inventory of service line materials, and many publish a lookup map or will tell you over the phone. You can also look at the pipe where it comes through your basement wall or floor before the meter: lead is dull gray, soft, and scratches to a shiny silver with a key, and a magnet will not stick to it. Galvanized steel is gray and a magnet will stick. Copper looks like a penny when scratched. What you see inside the house only tells you about that section, though. The only way to know what is buried under the yard is to expose it, which is what a test pit at the curb stop does.
It means the line is galvanized steel that is, or may once have been, downstream of lead piping. Galvanized pipe can collect lead particles on its inside walls and release them later. Under New Jersey law, a galvanized service line is treated the same as a lead service line and has to be replaced.
The work at your property usually takes a day or two once permits are in hand and the water utility has scheduled its part. The longer part of the timeline is often the paperwork and coordination before the crew arrives. We give you a realistic schedule in the written estimate, and your water is only shut off for the connection itself.
Not more than necessary. Where soil and site conditions allow, we pull the new line through trenchlessly, with small pits at each end instead of one long trench. When an open trench is the better option, we cut it as narrow as practical, keep the topsoil separate, and restore the lawn, walkway or driveway as part of the same job. We walk the route with you before we start so you know exactly what to expect.
Yes. Service line replacement requires permits from your town, and the work has to be coordinated with your water utility. We pull the permits and handle the coordination as part of the job.
It depends on your water company. Some utilities cover the private side or spread the cost across all ratepayers; others pass the private-side cost to the property owner. Call your water company first and ask. If they are covering it, let them. If you are responsible, or you do not want to wait for their schedule, we can give you a free written estimate.
"Unknown" means there is no documented record of what the line is made of. It does not mean the line is lead, and it does not mean it is safe. A small test pit at the curb stop lets us see the pipe and identify the material. If it turns out to be copper or plastic, you can report that to your utility so they can update their inventory.
In most cases, yes. Utilities have until 2031 to finish, and many are working neighborhood by neighborhood. If you want it done sooner, because you are selling, renovating, or simply want it off your mind, we can replace the private side now and coordinate with your utility on the connection to their side. Ask your water company first whether replacing early affects any reimbursement or program they offer.
Free Written Estimate
Got the letter? Send us a photo of it.
Snap a picture of your water company's letter and send it with your request. We will tell you what it means for your property and give you a free written estimate.