Breaking Barriers to Lead Service Line Replacement in New York

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By Erica Galante-Johnson, Rob Hayes, & Valerie Nguyen

Every New Yorker deserves safe, lead-free drinking water, yet hundreds of thousands remain at risk from exposure to lead through aging lead service lines (LSLs). With an estimated 555,696 LSLs—the fifth-highest total in the nation—New York faces a pressing public health and infrastructure challenge that disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color. The federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) require utilities to replace nearly all LSLs by 2037, which will cost New York approximately $695 million per year.

Our report examines both successes and barriers in the state’s early efforts to replace LSLs and identifies policy solutions to accelerate progress, increase public health protections, and ensure compliance with federal requirements. Replacing LSLs presents a monumental challenge, but also a monumental opportunity. New York is on the brink of making a once-in-a-generation investment to upgrade its water infrastructure, which will benefit both public health and the state’s economy.