Lead Service Lines in Columbus
The short answer
A lead service line is a buried water line made of lead pipe. City of Columbus Water & Power states that lead (and galvanized) water service lines can't be repaired; they must be fully replaced with compliant material. The city publishes its own lead service line program information, which is the place to check current details.
What a lead service line is
The water service line is the buried pipe that brings water from the city main to your house. In some older homes that line is made of lead.
Telling lead from other materials by eye isn't reliable, especially when only a short piece is visible. A proper evaluation is needed.
The Columbus rule
City of Columbus Water & Power states that repair of lead and galvanized water service lines is prohibited. Those service lines must be fully replaced with compliant material.
So a leak on a lead service line can't be patched. The line has to be replaced.
The city's program information
The City of Columbus runs a lead service line program and publishes current information on its website, including what the city offers. Check the city's page for eligibility and current terms; we don't administer the program.
What replacement involves
We replace the service line with compliant material and pull the required permits when the job requires them. The installation method is chosen after we've looked at the site.
Services on this topic
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