Estimating lead service line replacement costs

Lead service line replacement cost

• Full replacement cost (utility + private side). Public water systems typically cover the cost of replacing the portion of the service line extending from the water main to the curb stop or meter. In some cases, a property owner is required to replace the remaining segment of the line that goes to the home. 

  The EPA estimates a full replacement of lead service lines will cost an average of $4,700, ranging from $1,200 to $12,300 per replaced service line. Certain site-specific variables could swell those costs to anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 per lead service line.

• Restoration. Depending upon the conditions at a particular site, several field practices are used to replace service lines, including:
• Open trench. It is the conventional approach, which requires cutting and breaking of service material and soil excavation from the point of connection to the main.
• Replacement with new routes. The discarded pipe is replaced with a new pipe, which is installed along a different route using trenchless methods, such as guided boring or impact moling.
• Replacement using routes. It is a preferred and cost-effective approach to remove the pipe while simultaneously replacing it with a new pipe along the original route through techniques such as pipe pulling and pipe splitting.

• Engineering services. Construction and replacement of lead service lines are the core engineering services in the process. Although engineering services are relatively fixed for project initiation and per individual replacement, a rise in construction costs because of extensive pavement requirements, the depth of service lines and soil conditions may affect the cost of engineering services.

• Permitting. Permitting requirements for lead service line replacement are set at the local level, and costs vary significantly from municipality to municipality.

• Customer outreach. This includes scheduling appointments, signing forms, getting access to building interiors and following up. Outreach costs can vary significantly from household to household, but the variability is typically because of the ownership status or employment schedule of the resident.

• Post-replacement provisions. Water quality sampling, household flushing and water filter provisions ensure the replaced line is properly connected to the water supply and the water is lead-free. The costs associated with the post-replacement provisions are not always accounted for in the initial replacement estimates.