HOW GCWW HELPS PROPERTY OWNERS

No. There are very strict requirements for use of water rate payer funds. Incentives for replacements done outside of GCWW's program or under a previous version of the program cannot be claimed for eligibility in the 100% funding program.

A service line provides water from the water main in the street to the property.

The water main is installed down the street and the public (utility-owned) service line connects from the water main to the property line. This is the GCWW portion of the water service and is the responsibility of the utility.

The property owner is responsible for the private (customer-owned) service line section from the property line into the house/building.

There are several ways to determine if your service line is made of lead:

Use the GCWW interactive lead map to look up the service line material in your home or business by address.

If you are still not sure, please call our Lead Hotline at 513-651-LEAD (5323) to speak with an agent for assistance.

Effective July 28, 2017, lead service lines are prohibited in the GCWW system. However, no enforcement will take place until GCWW provides the property owner with written notice of the requirement to replace the private lead service line. You will be required to replace the lead service line, if you have a leaking private lead service line or if you have caused disturbance to the private lead service line or meter setting, through renovations or other construction work.

When a water infrastructure project (such as a water main replacement project) is causing disturbance to the lead service line, GCWW strongly advises you to replace your private (customer-owned) portion of the water service line from the property line into the house/building with copper piping to protect the health of the residents. GCWW will provide information prior to the start of the water infrastructure project to explain the GCWW funded process to replace the lead service line. GCWW may require replacement in the future if you do not choose to replace your lead service line with copper piping at the time of the water infrastructure project. Construction costs, GCWW cost sharing, customer assistance and financing are subject to change.

Please note that funding for lead service line replacement is limited each year and that the level or availability of GCWW funding may change in the future. Customers, therefore, are strongly encouraged to replace their lead service line if it is involved in a watermain replacement project.

You will continue to assume the risks of exposure to lead in water from the private lead service line. The CMC Ch. 401 prohibition of lead service lines in the water system is a legal requirement that cannot be waived. GCWW will enforce this legal requirement by requiring removal of the private portion of the lead service line in the future.

Participate in the GCWW Lead Service Line
Replacement Program (LSLRP).

GCWW continues to trail blaze lead service line removal. On December 15, 2021, Cincinnati City Council authorized GCWW to pay the full cost of private lead service line replacements performed under City contracts. This represents an important step towards maintaining public health and regulatory compliance in the years ahead.

If you choose to participate in the LSLRP, GCWW will 100% fund and will coordinate all work including replacing the lead service line. Before the work can proceed you must sign and return the GCWW “Agreement for Private Lead Service Line Replacement” that will be provided to you prior to replacement work.

GCWW will pay 100% of the cost to replace your lead service line. GCWW will hire the contractor to do the replacement work. All you need to do is sign the contract authorizing GCWW to do the work. Please note that funding for lead service line replacement in any given year is limited.

No, if you choose not to participate in the LSLRP and hire your own certified plumber no financial assistance will be available from GCWW.

Yes, removing the lead service line (LSL) reduces the highest risk for lead in drinking water (based on lead sample results). It is possible that other risks will remain in your house/building, including internal plumbing sources of lead. These items include, but are not limited to: leaded solder pipes, galvanized plumbing, leaded brass plumbing fixtures, and older faucets. You may want to hire a licensed plumber to replace these items.

Hot water heaters also pose a risk of lead exposure in your drinking water as a result of the sediment accumulating at the bottom of the tank over the years. GCWW recommends you review your hot water heater manufacturer’s maintenance manual or consult with a licensed plumber on how to clean out any sediment at the bottom of the tank after your lead service line has been replaced.

It is possible you may notice more water coming out of your plumbing fixtures as a result of the new copper piping installed. This is not increased water pressure, but rather more water flowing resulting from the slightly larger copper piping. GCWW recommends you hire a licensed plumber to verify the integrity of your premise plumbing and fixtures and verify they are capable of handling the additional water. Any faulty premise plumbing or fixtures identified by your plumber should be fixed before the lead service line replacement work begins.

Providing high-quality water to our community is GCWW’s highest priority. GCWW meets all state and federal drinking water regulations. GCWW takes extraordinary efforts to ensure the water produced from our plants and delivered through the distribution system is as safe as possible. However, the presence of lead service lines can present a challenge to maintaining safe water, and construction activities can result in a temporary increase in lead levels.

To avoid this risk, GCWW will provide a water filter pitcher which is certified to remove lead from the water after the lead service line replacement activities have been completed. It is important that water used for drinking and cooking is filtered and the proper flushing procedures are followed after the work is complete.

The same day after GCWW or its contractor has completed installing the new copper service line or before the next water use, you should fully open the cold-water side only at every interior premise plumbing fixture and let the water run for 30 minutes to flush out the new service line. This should be done to remove any potential lead particles that may have come loose and become captured in the internal premise plumbing as a result of the replacement work. Hot water should not be used until the cold water has been run for 30 minutes.

Every morning or after any period of no water use for 6 hours or more, fully open the kitchen faucet or any bathroom faucet and let the water run for 5 minutes before using (such as first thing in the morning or when getting home from work). This can also be done by taking a shower, running dishwater, or flowing the faucet. This should be done for 6-months or until the monthly water testing results are below 15 parts per billion (ppb). You will receive detailed instruction from GCWW on how to perform this work.

Yes, you should obtain a water sample within 3 days after your lead service line is replaced or disturbed. Use the sample bottle provided by GCWW and follow instructions to obtain a water sample. Sample results will be provided to you by GCWW upon completion of testing. You should continue to have your water tested monthly until water sample results show lead levels below 15 ppb, and then quarterly to ensure lead levels continue to decline or are below 15 ppb. Continue to use the water pitcher filter supplied by GCWW, until water test results show lead levels less than 15 ppb.

To have your water tested for free, please contact GCWW at 513-651-LEAD (5323) or request your free lead test kit here.

1. A GCWW contractor will need to enter your property to replace the lead service line with copper pipe from the curb stop at the property line up to and including the meter setting in the basement. Complete access to the water service line needs to be available where it enters the home/building, including the meter setting. Providing access will be the responsibility of the property owner.

2. Generally, the replacement of the lead service line will be done by excavating at the curb stop, pulling or boring new copper pipe underground through the route of the existing lead service line, penetrating through the basement wall or floor, installing a new meter setting including inlet and outlet valves, and reconnecting the new meter setting to the home building’s internal plumbing. This method is termed “trenchless” and minimizes the amount of excavation and yard disturbance that is needed.

3. If an open trench method is needed for installation, the excavation will be approximately two feet wide from the curb stop at the property line to the foundation wall.

4. A hole will be made in the basement floor or foundation wall to accept the new copper service line.

5. GCWW contractors will restore the exterior work site as follows:

a. Restoration is limited to the excavated and disturbed areas.

b. Impacted lawn areas will be backfilled to include no less than 12” of topsoil at lawn excavations. Grass seed and straw will be placed during the growing season. Watering the grass seed is
the responsibility of the property owner.

c. Impacted paved surfaces will be restored with asphalt/cold patch.

d. All private walks, trees, shrubs, landscaping, or similar items are the responsibility of the property owner. If the removal of such items is required for installation, they will be relocated by the contractor. Upon completion of the work, the property owner will be responsible for replacing the removed items.

e. Extraordinary physical or other obstacles that prevent lead service line replacement by standard trenchless methods may need to be removed by and at the expense of the owner.