The Countdown Begins: Replacing Lead Service Lines Before the 2037 Deadline
For water utilities across the country, the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) is one of the most significant regulatory shifts towards mitigating lead exposure through drinking water in recent years. While a lot of attention is on the final deadline of replacing all lead service lines by December 31, 2037, utilities that are focusing only on that date are missing the bigger picture.
LCRI compliance is required for all community water systems and non-transient non-community water systems that have lead or galvanized requiring replacement (GRR) service lines. It was designed to drive steady, documented progress over time — not a mad dash at the finish line. Utilities that put off this critical work will risk falling behind a schedule that leaves very little room to catch up.
In fact, the first major milestone has already passed. Service line inventories were due in October 2024, requiring utilities to identify their lead service lines, galvanized lines in need of replacement, and non-lead lines across their distribution systems and report unknown service line materials. For many utilities, this work revealed gaps in their historical records, uncertainty surrounding private-side ownership, and a larger overall scope of work than previously expected. Those inventories will now form the baseline for measuring all future progress.
Key Deadlines on the Path to Compliance
While the first deadline has already passed, the next critical one is quickly approaching. By November 1, 2027, utilities must submit their lead service line replacement plans and an updated service line inventory to their primacy agencies. This upcoming deadline will mark the beginning of the federally mandated replacement period for most water systems. From then, the expectation is crystal clear: utilities have a ten-year window — from 2027 to 2037 — to replace all of their lead service lines. Throughout the decade, utilities are also required to replace an average of 10% of their lead service lines per calendar year.
Then, annual reporting will begin in 2029, with utilities required to document their progress, replacement rates, and verify all non-lead service lines on an annual basis. Additionally, they are required to verify their sampling results to the EPA. By 2034, they must validate the accuracy of their inventories for non-lead service lines, further emphasizing the need for reliable data and consistent field verification.
The final and most critical deadline is, of course, December 31, 2037. By that date, all community water systems and non-transient non-community water systems must have successfully identified all unknown service line materials and replaced all the lead service lines under their jurisdiction, unless they qualify for a deferred deadline.
Deferred Deadlines: A Narrow Exception, Not the Rule
While the LCRI does allow for delayed compliance, it is far more limited than many utilities initially assumed. According to the EPA, only about one percent of water systems nationwide are expected to qualify, and eligibility for a deferred deadline depends solely on replacement speed. If meeting the requirement to replace 10% of known lead and GRR service lines would mean replacing more than 39 lines per 1,000 connections each year, the water system may receive a deferred deadline. However, even in those cases the approval isn’t automatic. The utility would still need to submit their documentation to the EPA showcasing that the required pace would be impractical and burdensome for them.
The EPA has made it clear that deferrals will be granted sparingly and on a case-by-case basis. For most utilities, planning around a delayed deadline simply isn’t realistic, and it carries real risk. Of course, the safest assumption is full compliance by the end of 2037.
What’s Required Beyond Construction
It’s important to note that replacing pipes is only one piece of the puzzle. The LCRI stresses that utilities must follow the four main guidelines: identify, plan, report, and verify. Utilities must maintain a detailed inventory of lead and GRR lines, including those located on private property where they have legal access. Replacement plans must outline their prioritization strategies, funding methods, and realistic schedules that align with the 10% annual replacement expectation.
Annual reporting is another main component of this effort. Systems must document their progress, report replacement numbers, and continue verifying non-lead lines year after year. And more importantly, the rule requires utilities to offer replacement regardless of ownership — public or private — so long as access is available. This adds layers of careful coordination with property owners and introduces another layer of administrative and financial complexity.
Challenges Utilities Will Face
The scale of this effort cannot be overstated. Some utilities are being tasked with replacing tens or even hundreds of thousands of lead service lines. Meeting a 10% annual replacement rate at that scale requires a significant ramp-up in construction capacity, workforce availability, and program management. This will undoubtedly leave utilities to compete with one another for qualified contractors, inspectors, and materials, especially as more utilities move from the planning stage and into active replacement.
As with most replacement projects, funding will remain another major hurdle. While the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made historic federal funding available for lead service line replacement, it sunsets in 2026 and is unlikely to be renewed by the current administration.. Many utilities will need to supplement federal and state funds with local capital investments or customer charges, especially for private-side replacements. Early financial planning will be a critical tool to avoid slowing down progress.
Why Acting Now Is Essential
The way the LCRI is structured leaves little room for procrastination. Utilities that wait until 2027 to fully mobilize these replacement programs will find themselves under immediate and immense pressure to meet the annual targets while still building internal capacity. Early action allows them to spread costs out over time, refine their replacement methods, secure contractor relationships, and engage their communities before construction ramps up.
Most importantly, acting now reduces future risk. Falling behind early in the ten-year period makes compliance exponentially harder later on, especially as labor markets tighten and costs rise. The 2037 deadline may appear distant, but the path to get there is already mapped out — and it’s not forgiving.
At the end of the day, the message from the EPA is clear: inventories are complete, replacement plans are due soon, and progress will be measured year by year. For nearly every utility, the countdown has already begun, and the time to act is now.
As a niche water and wastewater engineering firm, Tata & Howard has the targeted expertise to efficiently assist utilities with every aspect of lead service line replacement. Contact us to learn more or to help your utility meet this critical deadline.