Lead Service Line Replacement Program

Did you recently receive a letter from DWSD regarding your water service line pipe material? The service line is the pipe that brings clean and safe drinking water to your home or business from the city’s water main. Notifications were sent to properties with known lead or galvanized service lines, and service lines of unknown pipe material. Every city and township in America is required to send these notifications to any property that receives municipal water service. DWSD is replacing lead service lines at a rapid pace, starting with the most vulnerable neighborhoods, and it will take about 10 years to replace all the lead service lines in the city of Detroit. If you would like to verify if you have a lead service line, use this online tool created by NPR or watch this YouTube video produced by DWSD, and then complete this online self-verification form to let us know if you have a lead line. Please note that completing this verification form does not guarantee DWSD will be able to replace your lead service line in the near future as that is dependent upon funding resources. Learn more about DWSD's Lead Service Line Replacement Program below.

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) estimates there are more than 80,000 lead service lines delivering water to homes in Detroit. In the city of Detroit, lead service lines are most likely to be found in single-family homes built before 1945. 

The water leaving the treatment plants that serve the city of Detroit does not contain lead, but lead can be released into drinking water from corrosion in lead service lines and household plumbing that contains lead. The water provided to DWSD customers contains a corrosion inhibitor to reduce corrosion of lead and other pipe materials into drinking water. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health and developmental problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Since 2018, DWSD has been working to verify lead service lines and replace them as part of the Asset Management Program.

Data as of November 18, 2024

Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Approach

Since 2018, DWSD has replaced 3,000 lead service lines through water main replacement projects and individual lead service line projects throughout the city. DWSD continues to replace the existing lead service lines – the pipe providing water to a home from the water main – while on the same block as the water main replacement project.

In Fall of 2022, DWSD received $90 million in funding from state and federal governments to dramatically speed up its Lead Service Line Replacement Program. In May 2023, DWSD started a neighborhood-by-neighborhood approach to replace lead service lines. Neighborhoods are prioritized based on density of housing built prior to 1945, significant number of children and seniors in the area, and likely high number of low-income households based on Census tracts.

DWSD started the accelerated lead service line replacements in two areas of Claytown in District 6 on Detroit’s southwest side. See below for current and upcoming neighborhoods.

Do You Have a Lead Service Line?

• Do I have a lead service line? Use this online tool created by NPR or watch this YouTube video produced by DWSD to determine if you have a lead service line.
  • Take a photo of your service line entering your house or building and complete this online self-verification form to let us know if you have a lead line. 
• When can I get my lead service line replaced? 
  • DWSD is replacing lead service lines throughout Detroit on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis. DWSD will contact you before coming to your neighborhood.
  • DWSD will replace the lead service line, with homeowner/occupant permission, when workers are on your block replacing the water main. If water main replacement is taking place in your neighborhood, you will be notified in advance of construction beginning.
• How will I know if my street is next? The timing of outreach to your property will be dependent on the construction schedule and as funding becomes available. Check the list below to see the list of current and upcoming neighborhoods.
• How can I get my water tested? DWSD, in partnership with the Great Lakes Water Authority, will test for lead in the water at no charge at homes where a child has tested positive for elevated blood lead levels, or when DWSD is replacing a lead service line. Learn more at the Lead and Water Testing page, submit this online form or complete and download this form. The participating household must collect the tap water sample by adhering to the provided instructions. Any home where a collected sample has over 15 parts per billion of lead will be provided a water filter that meets the ANSI/NSF 53 standard for lead removal.

Current Neighborhoods*

• Fitzgerald (west)
  • Birwood to Greenlawn, from McNichols to John C Lodge Service Drive 
• Pilgrim Village
  • Petoskey to Log Cabin, from Puritan to John C Lodge Service Drive
• Banglatown
  • Joseph Campau to Conant, from Davison to Carpenter
• Grand River-i96
  • Ward to Greenlawn, from i96 Service Drive to Grand River
• Pingree Park 
  • Graiot to E Forest, from Seminole to Rohns

Future Neighborhoods* (Not in order of construction)

• Dexter Linwood (south)
  • Davison to Burlingame, from Dexter to Linwood

Completed Neighborhoods (Restoration may still be in progress)

• Fitzgerald
  • Turner from Puritan to John C Lodge Service Dr
  • Woodingham from Puritan to John C Lodge Service Dr
  • Woodingham to Stoepel, from McNichols to John C Lodge Service Drive
• Bagley
  • Monica to Stoepel, from 7 Mile to Curtis
• Barton-McFarland
  • Kentucky from Joy to Tireman
  • Indiana from Joy to Tireman
  • Wisconsin from Joy to Tireman
• Claytown 
  • Michigan to Saint Stephens, Ternes to Casper
  • Florida to Chopin, McGraw to Edsel Ford Service Dr
• Dexter-Linwood
  • Burlingame to Glynn Ct, from Dexter to Linwood
• Springwells
  • Vernor to Homer, Lawndale to Springwells
• Oak Grove
  • Greenlawn to Stoepel, from Pembroke to W Outer Dr
• Oakman Blvd
  • Stoepel to Monica, from Oakman Blvd to Elmhurst
• Pulaski Park
  • Hoover to Dresden, from E State Fair to 7 Mile
• Russell Woods
  • Waverly to Cortland, Davison to Dexter
• Fischer Street
  • Fischer from Mack Ave to Vernor
• Pingree Park
  • Seminole to Burns, from E Forest to Mack
• Jamison
  • Clairmount to Vicksburg, from Dexter to Linwood
• Hope Village
  • Doris to Davison, from Livernois to Linwood 
• Morningside
  • Balfour to Audubon, from W Warren to Mack

*Lead service line replacement will take place on specified streets within these neighborhoods. Streets are chosen based on available data including age of the homes, number of seniors and children, likely high number of low-income households based on Census tracts, and verified lead services.  THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT. If your street is not listed, DWSD will return to your area to replace the lead service lines. Per state law, all lead service lines will be replaced by 2040.