Galvanized vs. lead service lines: which ones must be replaced?
Updated November 2, 2026
Your utility's letter may say your line is "galvanized requiring replacement" (GRR). That isn't a lead pipe, but federal rules treat it like one.
What GRR means
Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, a galvanized steel service line must be replaced if it is now, or ever was, downstream of a lead service line or a lead connector such as a gooseneck or pigtail. Galvanized pipe has a rough zinc coating inside. Lead particles from the upstream pipe stick to that coating and can break loose later, even after the lead piece is gone. If the utility can't show there was never lead upstream, the galvanized line is counted as GRR.
How to tell them apart
| Lead | Galvanized steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Dull gray | Gray or silver-gray |
| Scratch with a key | Soft, shows shiny silver | Hard, little change |
| Magnet | Doesn't stick | Sticks |
| Joints | Smooth, bulb-shaped near meter | Threaded fittings |
| Federal rule | Replace by 2037 | Replace by 2037 if GRR |
Does the program pay for galvanized?
Usually yes; most programs that pay for lead lines also cover GRR lines, because utilities must replace both. There are exceptions. Toledo's free customer-side program, for example, did not cover galvanized lines. Check your city's page for the exact terms.
Galvanized lines also fail
Even without lead, galvanized pipe corrodes from the inside over 40 to 70 years, which cuts water pressure and causes leaks. If your galvanized line is old and pressure is low, replacing it may be worth doing anyway, and doing it while a program pays is cheaper.
Sources: EPA LCRI, City of Toledo
Common questions
Is galvanized pipe as dangerous as lead?
Galvanized steel itself isn't lead, but a galvanized line that sat downstream of lead can release trapped lead particles. That's why federal rules require replacing those lines.
Will my utility replace a galvanized line for free?
Most programs that replace lead lines also cover galvanized lines that require replacement, but not all. Check your utility's page.
Find your city's program
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