Lead pipes in Essex County, New Jersey
How many lead pipes are in Essex County, NJ?
Water systems based in Essex County reported 8,160 lead service lines, 8,279 galvanized lines that need replacing and 58,777 lines of unknown material to EPA (Q3 2026). East Orange has the most, with 7,969 lead and galvanized lines.
Free replacement program confirmed
Who pays in New Jersey
New Jersey requires water systems to replace all lead service lines, and galvanized lines that need it, within ten years of the 2021 law, so by 2031. Investor-owned utilities recover the cost of the owner side through rates; New Jersey American Water and Veolia replace customer lines at no direct cost and add a small charge to every bill. Many municipal systems, such as Newark, Trenton and Passaic Valley, also replace at no cost to the owner.
Confirmed programs in Essex County
- East Orange: Phase 2 underway; NJ deadline 2031.
- Belleville: Main-to-meter replacements, phase by phase.
- Short Hills system (NJ American Water): No direct cost (LSLR charge on all bills).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Orange East Orange Water Commission | 1,969 | 6,000 | 0 | Replacing lines; ask about cost |
| Belleville Belleville Water Dept | 4,411 | 0 | 0 | Replacing lines; ask about cost |
| Short Hills system (NJ American Water) NJ American Water - Short Hills | 1,231 | 1,240 | 28,098 | Free, utility schedules |
| Montclair Montclair Water Bureau | 130 | 276 | 387 | Not confirmed |
| Bloomfield Bloomfield Water Department | 176 | 175 | 5,973 | Not confirmed |
| Essex Fells Essex Fells Water Dept | 0 | 264 | 114 | Not confirmed |
| South Orange South Orange Water Department | 82 | 78 | 3,753 | Not confirmed |
| Glen Ridge Glen Ridge Water Dept | 32 | 102 | 47 | Not confirmed |
| Nutley Nutley Water Dept | 92 | 18 | 2,092 | Not confirmed |
| Verona Verona Water Department | 1 | 57 | 2,737 | Not confirmed |
| Orange Orange Water Dept | 22 | 27 | 4,392 | Not confirmed |
| Livingston Livingston TWP Div of Water | 0 | 27 | 8,224 | Not confirmed |
| West Caldwell West Caldwell Water Department | 0 | 12 | 659 | Not confirmed |
| Cedar Grove Cedar Grove Water Dept | 11 | 0 | 0 | Not confirmed |
| North Caldwell North Caldwell - Hilltop | 3 | 1 | 74 | Not confirmed |
| Roseland Roseland Water Dept | 0 | 2 | 66 | Not confirmed |
| Caldwell Caldwell Water Dept | 0 | 0 | 2,161 | Not confirmed |
Common questions
How many lead pipes are in Essex County, NJ?
Water systems based in Essex County reported 8,160 lead service lines, 8,279 galvanized lines that need replacing and 58,777 lines of unknown material to EPA (Q3 2026). East Orange has the most, with 7,969 lead and galvanized lines.
Who pays to replace lead service lines in Essex County?
It depends on your water utility. New Jersey requires water systems to replace all lead service lines, and galvanized lines that need it, within ten years of the 2021 law, so by 2031. We have confirmed programs for 3 Essex County utilities, listed on this page.
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 New Jersey counties
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