Lead pipes in Essex County, Massachusetts
How many lead pipes are in Essex County, MA?
Water systems based in Essex County reported 1,272 lead service lines, 3,396 galvanized lines that need replacing and 60,058 lines of unknown material to EPA (Q3 2026). Beverly has the most, with 1,682 lead and galvanized lines.
Who pays in Massachusetts
This state has no law we found that decides who pays for the private side of a lead service line, so each utility sets its own policy. Under the federal rule, utilities must replace every lead line and galvanized line that needs it within ten years of November 1, 2027, but the rule does not make utilities pay for the owner's side. Federal infrastructure money passed through the state revolving fund can pay for it, so many utilities offer free or discounted replacement, especially for low-income owners.
Every Essex County water system with lead lines
Systems are grouped by the county EPA lists as their main service area. Some serve towns in neighboring counties too.
| Water system | Lead | Galv. | Unknown | Program |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beverly Beverly Water Dept | 3 | 1,679 | 6 | Not confirmed |
| Gloucester Gloucester Public Utility Division | 12 | 636 | 4,639 | Not confirmed |
| Methuen Methuen Water Dept | 0 | 563 | 372 | Not confirmed |
| Ipswich Ipswich Dpu Water Dept | 328 | 22 | 215 | Not confirmed |
| Haverhill Haverhill Water Dept | 327 | 1 | 7,277 | Not confirmed |
| Lynn Lynn Water and Sewer Comm | 224 | 59 | 7,765 | Not confirmed |
| Saugus Saugus Water Dept. (Mwra) | 136 | 68 | 2,730 | Not confirmed |
| Rockport Rockport Water Dept | 1 | 156 | 1,566 | Not confirmed |
| Merrimac Merrimac Water Department | 0 | 87 | 28 | Not confirmed |
| Salem Salem Water Department | 61 | 16 | 3,386 | Not confirmed |
| Lawrence Lawrence Water Works | 65 | 0 | 406 | Not confirmed |
| Peabody Peabody Water Dept. | 53 | 0 | 2,868 | Not confirmed |
| Manchester Manchester by the Sea DPW | 38 | 3 | 1,565 | Not confirmed |
| Lynnfield Lynnfield Water Dist. (Mwra) | 0 | 29 | 305 | Not confirmed |
| Essex Essex Water Dept. | 0 | 29 | 502 | Not confirmed |
| Newburyport Newburyport Water Department | 2 | 14 | 5,052 | Not confirmed |
| Nahant Nahant Water Dept. (Mwra) | 7 | 7 | 1,281 | Not confirmed |
| Andover Andover Water Dept | 14 | 0 | 0 | Not confirmed |
| Amesbury Amesbury DPW Water Div. | 0 | 10 | 4,421 | Not confirmed |
| Marblehead Marblehead Water Dept. (Mwra) | 0 | 4 | 1,340 | Not confirmed |
| Rowley Rowley Water Department | 0 | 4 | 1,214 | Not confirmed |
| Salisbury Salisbury Water Division | 0 | 4 | 2,017 | Not confirmed |
| Swampscott Swampscott Water Dept. (Mwra) | 0 | 2 | 5,605 | Not confirmed |
| North Andover North Andover Water Dept | 1 | 1 | 807 | Not confirmed |
| Byfield Water District Byfield Water District | 0 | 2 | 454 | Not confirmed |
| Topsfield Topsfield Water Department | 0 | 0 | 1,363 | Not confirmed |
| Hamilton Hamilton Water Dept | 0 | 0 | 1,709 | Not confirmed |
| Groveland Groveland Water Department | 0 | 0 | 1,165 | Not confirmed |
Common questions
How many lead pipes are in Essex County, MA?
Water systems based in Essex County reported 1,272 lead service lines, 3,396 galvanized lines that need replacing and 60,058 lines of unknown material to EPA (Q3 2026). Beverly has the most, with 1,682 lead and galvanized lines.
Who pays to replace lead service lines in Essex County?
It depends on your water utility. Massachusetts has no law we found that decides who pays for the private side of a lead service line, so each utility sets its own policy. We have not confirmed a homeowner program for a utility in this county yet, so ask your utility before you hire a contractor.
How do I find out if my house has a lead service line?
Look up your address on your water utility's service line inventory map, or check the pipe where it enters your home: lead is dull gray, soft, scratches to shiny silver, and a magnet won't stick. See our step-by-step guide.
Other Massachusetts counties
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