Free program to check the material of underground service lines
A limited number of customers have been selected to participate in this free temporary program. If we find lead or galvanized metal, we’ll replace it for free!
The Service Line Verification Program: The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is digging to check service line materials at a small set of properties across the city to help verify our records and improve data on our Service Line Materials Map.
If we uncover a service line made of lead or galvanized metal through this verification, we will replace your service line for free, at no cost to the property owner.
Why should you participate?
It’s a great way to reduce the risks associated with possible lead plumbing. If replacement is needed, you’ll receive a free service worth thousands of dollars.
Plus, you’ll be helping us improve our records with more accurate information.
Who is eligible?
Several hundred properties were randomly chosen across the City. Invitations to participate where shared via letter or email.
Only properties that received a letter or email about this program are eligible to participate.
Participation is limited to the first 400 customers to respond to that invitation.
When will work take place?
The timing for this program is limited to the spring and early summer of 2025.
Digging work is typically scheduled during the day between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
What to expect when you participate
Complete the permission form online by clicking the button below, or return the paper form, following the instructions included in your letter. Replacement is only needed if lead or galvanized material is found.
Completing this form does not mean you are a confirmed participant. We will verify your property info and schedule with the first 400 eligible customers to respond.
Property owner submits permission form
The property owner must give permission for the work. The form allows us to do the work needed to check the material. It also covers the service line replacement if we find lead or galvanized metal.
Notification before work begins
When we have your signed form, PWD will schedule a crew to perform the verification work at your property. You do not need to be present for this work. You’ll receive a courtesy call from our contractor the morning the work will be performed.
Material Verification: Digging by a crew
Digging to verify the service line material usually takes about two hours. Read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below to learn more about what to expect. If no lead or galvanized metal is found, no more action is needed. If lead or galvanized metal is found in your service line, you are eligible for service line replacement.
⮟ Steps 4 & 5 are only needed if lead or galvanized metal pipes are discovered ⮟
If needed: Schedule the replacement
Service line replacement will require a separate appointment. A plumber will contact you to schedule that appointment. More information about service line replacement is below.
If needed: Complete the replacement
After the service line replacement, there are actions you will need to take. We will provide instructions on flushing your pipes and temporarily filtering your water. We are available to answer any questions.
Water Service Line Verification and Replacement
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is my water service line? How will you verify the material?
Your service line is the pipe that carries clean water into your property from a water main. A PWD crew will need access to your front yard to dig a small hole to see the buried sections of pipe. Your water will not be turned off during verification.
Learn more about water service lines, and how PWD is working to help get rid of lead service lines.
⮞ water.phila.gov/lead
What happens with the information from the service line verification?
The crew completing the verification will give you updated information about your service line material before they leave. The information will also be used to update our online service line map.
Explore the map and see current property records:
⮞ Service Line Material Map
What happens if the service line needs replacement?
A registered plumber will replace any portion of the water service line that contains either lead or galvanized material. There is no cost to the property owner for this work. You (or an authorized representative) will need to be home during a replacement. This is because they’ll need access to the water meter where the pipe enters your home. We estimate the work will take 4-6 hours.
- The plumbing crew will dig a hole near the curb to uncover the area where the service line connects to the water main.
- They will remove the existing service line.
- They will insert the new service line under the ground to meet the water meter inside the home.
Note: The plumbing crew will need access to both the curb and water meter
during the work. Water will be turned off during the replacement.
After the service line is replaced, we will provide you with pitcher filters and instructions for temporary use, as well as information on how to flush your pipes to clear any debris in your plumbing that may have been disturbed during the work.
Will you repair my property when work is done?
We do our best to complete this work with minimal disruption to your property. Both the service line verification and replacement involve digging small holes in the front yard or sidewalk. We will fill in those holes and replace grassy areas with dirt and seed. We will replace standard concrete walkways or slabs.
Although it is not common, we sometimes must disturb landscaping, decks, retaining walls, or other hardscapes during replacement. This depends on the location of your service line. In these cases, we will discuss this with you before starting work.
The property owner is responsible for anything disturbed to make the meter accessible inside the home.
Who will do the work?
For verification: A PWD crew will check the pipe material.
For replacement: PWD will contract with a certified and registered plumber to install a new pipe, if any section of the old pipe contains lead or galvanized metal.
How were properties selected?
PWD is working to develop and implement a new tool called a predictive model to help update our Service Line Map. The predictive model gathers information about each property (such as home age, neighborhood, etc) and its known service line material, as well as information about the properties in its neighborhood. Using that data, it builds statistical models to generate predictions of the service line material at each property across the City.
Before PWD can fully implement this tool, we need to complete what is called “model verification”.
The Service Line Verification Program supports this early step in our predictive model. To ensure that the model predictions are correct, we need to dig at a minimum of 400 properties that do not currently have property plumbing records. This will confirm that the material in the ground matches the prediction made by the model. To select the properties, PWD used a third-party vendor. The vendor randomly selected the properties to ensure a representative sample for our study. This will provide a representative subset of service lines from neighborhoods all across the City.
If I didn’t get selected, should I get a plumber to check my service line material?
No. Regardless of the material, the next steps will be the same: flush, filter, or invest in replacement. Customers do not need to invest in this plumbing work immediately.
PWD plans to investigate unknown service lines, but it is going to take us time to get there. The department is exploring new technologies to determine the material of the buried portion of unknown lines in cost-effective and minimally disruptive ways.
Does the crew need to access my meter inside my house?
Not for the verification. For replacement, your water meter should be accessible.
Questions?
Email ServiceLineMap@phila.gov or call (215) 685-6300.