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Service line replacement

Service line replacement

Water supplies with lead or galvanized previously connected to lead (GPCL) service lines shall annually provide the department a summary of service line repairs or replacements. The annual service line replacement form must be submitted by March 31st every year.

Additionally, water supplies must annually notify homes served by lead, galvanized previously connected to lead (GPCL), or lead-status unknown service lines. A signed notification certification must be submitted by July 1st every year.

If a water supply completes an emergency repair or partial replacement on a lead or galvanized previously connected to lead (GPCL) service line, a signed emergency repair form must be submitted for each site that an emergency repair occurred. This requirement is in addition to submitting the annual service line replacement form.

  • Complete the annual service line replacement report

  • Annually notify homes with lead, galvanized previously connected to lead, or lead-status unknown service lines

  • What to do after an emergency repair on a service line with lead or GPCL materials

  • Complete the emergency repair of lead or GPCL service line form

  • Home flushing recommendations when reconnecting water service

Strategies for service line replacement

  • Create an equitable and efficient plan

    Focus on areas of priority first, by considering areas with:

    • A high density of service lines to be replaced
    • Disadvantaged or overburdened consumers
    • Consumers impacted by Environmental Justice concerns
    • Sensitive populations, including areas with children with elevated lead blood levels
    • Daycares

  • Manage costs and logistics

    Plan service line replacement projects, by considering:

    • Combining service line replacement projects with projects for water main repair or replacement; road construction, resurfacing, or repair; or stormwater drain or sewer construction
    • Focus area by area, to avoid spreading out resources too thinly
    • Utilize an in-house service line replacement crew
    • Minimize contractor cost by contracting projects early
    • Take advantage of funding opportunities and technical assistance programs
    • Develop a funding strategy to ensure implementation continuity

  • Engage with the community to gain compliance and access for identification and replacement

    Develop a community engagement plan to ensure:

    • Consistency
    • Equitable services to the community
    • Earlier community engagement
    • Plan centered around service line replacement implementation activities
    • Develop relationships with advanced outreach and clear messaging to consumers
    • Engage with and educate consumers on the importance of lead service line replacement with clear messaging, including written materials and door-to-door outreach
    • Partner with community grassroots organizations for enhanced community engagement

  • Collaborate and share knowledge with other water supplies

    Create partnerships with other water supplies to promote mutual technical support and collaboration, to:

    • Share strategies and lessons learned for replacing lead service lines, including in-person trainings to increase hands-on experience across water supplies
    • Share best practices for communication engagement and public education, including materials and resources
    • Share key logistical contacts for materials, supplies acquisition, and contractual work
    • EGLE offers support to facilitate collaboration among water supplies. If you need help, please contact EGLE-DWEHD-LCU@Michigan.gov

Training webinars for service line replacement

  • Emergency Service Line Repair: Best Practices and Requirements (2/18/26, 1 hour)

    This webinar reviews the Michigan Lead and Copper Rule requirements for service line replacement, emergency repairs, and partial replacements of lead and galvanized previously connected to lead (GPCL) service lines. The webinar highlights best practices and lessons learned from water supplies to prevent large-scale emergency repairs and partial replacements during planned drinking water infrastructure projects. EGLE will also demonstrate how to complete the Emergency Repair of Lead or GPCL Service Line Form (EQP1768).

  • Best Practices for Lead Service Line Replacement in Michigan (8/15/2025, 48 minutes)

    This webinar discusses best practices for lead service line replacement in Michigan, including recommendations for challenges related to planning, cost and logistics, communicating with residents, and more.

  • Emergency Lead Service Lines Repair and Updated Lead Service Line Replacement Form (2/19/2025, 1 hour 1 minute)

    This webinar discusses the Michigan Lead and Copper Rule requirements for emergency lead or galvanized previously connected to lead service line repair. Best practices and lessons learned through the review of emergency repair reports will also be shared. In addition, updates to the annual service line replacement report form will also be discussed.

  • Overview of Service Line Replacement and CDSMI-Minimum Service Line Material Verification Requirements (9/13/2022, 1 hour 18 minutes)

    This webinar explains an overview of what is required when completing service line replacement and the early steps of completing a DSMI. The webinar details the minimum expectation for physical verification of service lines in a system, which includes how many service lines need to be verified to be statistically significant and how to randomly select those service lines from a much larger list of unknown service lines.