Lead pipes in Van Buren County, Michigan
How many lead pipes are in Van Buren County, MI?
Water systems based in Van Buren County reported 802 lead service lines, 914 galvanized lines that need replacing and 2,877 lines of unknown material to EPA (Q3 2026). Hartford has the most, with 623 lead and galvanized lines.
Who pays 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.
Every Van Buren 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford Hartford | 283 | 340 | 0 | Not confirmed |
| Decatur Decatur | 285 | 178 | 0 | Not confirmed |
| Lawton Lawton | 201 | 81 | 192 | Not confirmed |
| South Haven Area South Haven Area Water & Sewer Authority | 31 | 203 | 1,860 | Not confirmed |
| Bangor Bangor | 2 | 56 | 617 | Not confirmed |
| Paw Paw Paw Paw | 0 | 56 | 208 | Not confirmed |
Common questions
How many lead pipes are in Van Buren County, MI?
Water systems based in Van Buren County reported 802 lead service lines, 914 galvanized lines that need replacing and 2,877 lines of unknown material to EPA (Q3 2026). Hartford has the most, with 623 lead and galvanized lines.
Who pays to replace lead service lines in Van Buren County?
It depends on your water utility. Michigan has the strongest lead line rule in the country. 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.
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