Sacramento’s Lead Pipe Replacement Program Offers Free Testing and Repairs to Protect Your Family’s Health

If you’re a Sacramento homeowner, you may be eligible for free lead pipe testing and replacement services through California’s expanding lead service line replacement program. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 provides funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) for lead service line (LSL) identification and replacement, with California receiving $250 million in FY 2022 and $29 million in FY 2023. This federal funding represents a historic opportunity to eliminate lead exposure risks in your home’s drinking water at no cost to you.

Understanding Sacramento’s Lead Pipe Challenge

The science is clear—there is no safe level of lead exposure. Yet, lead in drinking water pipes and faucets threatens the health of American families and children across the country. An estimated 6 to 10 million lead service lines (LSLs) serve water to properties in communities across the United States. Sacramento is no exception to this widespread issue.

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can cause new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. For adults, lead exposure has been linked to cardiovascular disease and other serious health complications.

Free Testing Available for Sacramento Homeowners

Sacramento area water agencies are actively working to identify and replace lead service lines. The Sacramento County Water Agency was required to conduct an inventory of all water service lines, which is the pipe that connects your building/home to the water main. The purpose of the inventory is to identify the material of these service lines and fittings, including the customer-owned side of the water service line (water line between the meter and your building/home).

Customers that are concerned about lead and/or copper levels in their tap water may wish to have it tested by a State-certified laboratory. Certified commercial laboratories can be found using the California ELAP Certified Laboratories map. Additionally, homeowners can contact the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 for information about sampling procedures and home water testing.

How to Identify Lead Pipes in Your Home

EPA has developed an online step-by-step guide to help people identify lead pipes in their homes called Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead. This resource provides homeowners with the tools they need to conduct a preliminary assessment of their service line materials.

If you’re unsure about your pipe material, the pipe that currently connects your building to the water main has not been identified and is considered an unknown material. Lead service lines or certain galvanized pipe can potentially place you at risk for exposure to lead. Therefore, your service line material will need to be identified.

Funding and Eligibility for Replacement Programs

The good news for Sacramento homeowners is that significant funding is available for lead pipe replacement. Water systems serving disadvantaged communities are eligible to receive up to 100% principal forgiveness. Water systems serving non-disadvantaged communities are eligible to receive loan at zero percent (0%) interest rate.

Replacement of a lead service line must replace the entire lead service line, not just a portion, unless a portion has already been replaced, is concurrently being replaced with another funding source, or an exception applies. Some examples of eligible projects and activities include the following: Complete removal of lead service lines (public and privately owned portion) and Galvanized Required Replacement (GRR).

Site restoration, including landscaping, sidewalks, driveways, etc. if the removal was necessary to replace the lead service line. Permit fees if the fees are normal, required, and specific to the LSLR are also covered under the program.

Timeline and Next Steps

We anticipate the completion of the identification of the customer portion of you service line by 2027. However, homeowners don’t need to wait for official notifications to take action. Complete the Water Service Line Material Survey and inform us immediately if you plan to alter or replace your service line because we may be required to replace the system portion. Contact Sacramento County Water Agency by calling 311 or visiting our website to share any information you may find about your service line.

When to Call a Professional Plumber

While lead pipe replacement programs handle the service line connections, homeowners may need professional plumbing repair sacramento services for interior plumbing updates or related water system improvements. If you discover lead concerns in your home’s plumbing during the inspection process, it’s important to work with licensed professionals who understand local water quality challenges and building codes.

Professional plumbers can also help with proper flushing procedures after lead pipe replacement and ensure your entire plumbing system is optimized for safe water delivery. They can assess whether additional interior improvements are needed to complement the exterior service line replacement work.

Protecting Your Family While Waiting for Replacement

If you suspect you have lead pipes, there are immediate steps you can take to reduce exposure. If laboratory testing indicates that the drinking water drawn from a tap in your home contains lead above 15 ppb, DDW recommends taking the following precautions: Run your water to flush out lead. Let the water run from the cold water tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in a faucet has gone unused for more than six hours.

Additionally, always use cold water for drinking and cooking, as hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead levels.

Take Action Today

Sacramento’s lead pipe replacement program represents an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate lead exposure risks in your home at no cost to you. With federal funding available and local agencies actively working on identification and replacement, now is the time to get involved in the process.

Contact your local water agency to learn about your service line material, request free testing if you have concerns, and stay informed about replacement timelines in your neighborhood. By taking proactive steps today, you can ensure your family has access to safe, lead-free drinking water for years to come.