Michigan Lead Service Line Replacement Programs
Michigan water systems reported 200,624 lead and 54,612 galvanized service lines that must be replaced (EPA, Q3 2026). Below: the state rule on who pays, and every Michigan utility with at least 1,000 such lines or a confirmed program.
Michigan Lead and Copper Rule (Mich. Admin. Code R 325.10604f, revised 2018)
Michigan has the strongest lead line rule in the country. Since the 2018 revision after the Flint crisis, water suppliers must replace all lead service lines, including the part on private property, by 2041, and they pay for it from system revenue rather than billing the owner directly. Partial replacements are banned except in emergencies. Water suppliers challenged the rule, and the Michigan Court of Claims upheld it in 2019.
Mandatory? Yes. Michigan requires water suppliers to replace every lead service line, including the private side, by 2041.
Funding: Utility rates plus Michigan EGLE grants and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loans.
Sources: glelc.squarespace.com, cbsnews.com
| Utility | Lead | Galv. | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit City of Detroit | 80,595 | 120 | Free when scheduled |
| Grand Rapids Grand Rapids | 19,430 | 0 | Free when scheduled |
| Muskegon Muskegon | 7,631 | 2,736 | Free when scheduled |
| Southgate Southgate | 192 | 9,735 | Free when scheduled |
| Jackson Jackson | 7,840 | 1 | Free |
| Saginaw City of Saginaw | 6,317 | 0 | Free when scheduled |
| Dearborn Dearborn | 5,271 | 0 | Free when scheduled |
| Kalamazoo Kalamazoo | 4,328 | 286 | Free when scheduled |
| Bay City City of Bay City | 3,323 | 879 | Free when scheduled |
| Muskegon Heights Muskegon Heights | 3,940 | 95 | Free when scheduled |
| Escanaba Escanaba | 3,572 | 322 | Free when scheduled |
| Battle Creek Battle Creek - Verona System | 3,614 | 167 | Free when scheduled |
| Owosso City of Owosso | 1,950 | 1,809 | Free when scheduled |
| Holland Holland Board of Public Works | 1,728 | 1,468 | Free when scheduled |
| Highland Park Highland Park | 2,828 | 0 | Free |
| Lincoln Park Lincoln Park | 2,647 | 0 | Free when scheduled |
| Adrian Adrian | 5 | 2,280 | Free when scheduled |
| Grosse Pointe Park Grosse Pointe Park | 1,999 | 1 | Free when scheduled |
| St Joseph St Joseph | 1,566 | 259 | Not confirmed |
| Ecorse Ecorse | 1,815 | 3 | Not confirmed |
| Greenville Greenville | 20 | 1,627 | Not confirmed |
| Royal Oak City of Royal Oak | 879 | 723 | Free |
| Hastings Hastings | 783 | 767 | Not confirmed |
| Grand Haven Township Grand Haven Township | 1,422 | 116 | Not confirmed |
| Grand Haven Grand Haven | 1,422 | 116 | Not confirmed |
| Sturgis Sturgis | 1,341 | 176 | Not confirmed |
| Three Rivers Three Rivers | 1,420 | 83 | Not confirmed |
| Eaton Rapids City of Eaton Rapids | 1,469 | 0 | Not confirmed |
| Dowagiac Dowagiac | 1,068 | 388 | Not confirmed |
| Kingsford Kingsford | 1,262 | 162 | Not confirmed |
| Ludington Ludington | 1 | 1,301 | Not confirmed |
| Iron Mountain Iron Mountain | 923 | 307 | Not confirmed |
| North Muskegon North Muskegon | 692 | 461 | Not confirmed |
| Monroe Monroe | 731 | 392 | Not confirmed |
| Otsego Otsego | 41 | 1,065 | Not confirmed |
| Boyne City City of Boyne City | 725 | 355 | Not confirmed |
| Coldwater Coldwater | 972 | 97 | Not confirmed |
| Allegan Allegan | 631 | 433 | Not confirmed |
| Vassar City of Vassar | 58 | 1,001 | Not confirmed |
| Pontiac Pontiac | 1,048 | 0 | Free |
Compare: lead lines in every state · cities with the most lead pipes · free programs in Michigan
Common questions
Who pays to replace lead service lines in Michigan?
Michigan has the strongest lead line rule in the country. Since the 2018 revision after the Flint crisis, water suppliers must replace all lead service lines, including the part on private property, by 2041, and they pay for it from system revenue rather than billing the owner directly. Partial replacements are banned except in emergencies. Water suppliers challenged the rule, and the Michigan Court of Claims upheld it in 2019.
Is lead service line replacement mandatory in Michigan?
Yes. Michigan requires water suppliers to replace every lead service line, including the private side, by 2041.
How many lead service lines are in Michigan?
Water systems in Michigan reported 200,624 lead service lines, 54,612 galvanized lines that need replacement and 272,807 lines of unknown material to EPA (Q3 2026), across 321 reporting systems.
Where can I get help paying in Michigan?
Start with your water utility's program; the table on this page shows what we've confirmed. State money flows through: Utility rates plus Michigan EGLE grants and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loans. If your utility has no program, see our guide to paying for replacement.