Wisconsin Lead Service Line Replacement Programs

Wisconsin water systems reported 146,354 lead and 12,730 galvanized service lines that must be replaced (EPA, Q3 2026). Below: the state rule on who pays, and every Wisconsin utility with at least 1,000 such lines or a confirmed program.

Each utility decides

Wis. Stat. 196.372 (2017 Act 137)

Wisconsin lets each utility decide. Under a 2017 law, utilities can offer grants or loans to owners for the private side with Public Service Commission approval. The DNR gives municipalities principal forgiveness (money that does not have to be repaid) for private-side work, and since July 2025 state law also allows forgiving loans for lead line projects. Homeowners cannot apply to the DNR directly; the money flows through the city.

Mandatory? No statewide mandate, but some cities, including Appleton and Milwaukee, require replacement by local ordinance.

Funding: Wisconsin DNR Safe Drinking Water Loan Program, lead service line principal forgiveness.

Sources: dnr.wisconsin.gov, codes.findlaw.com

Utilities listed18

Free programs3

Other programs11

Not yet confirmed4

Utility	Lead	Galv.	Program
Milwaukee Milwaukee Waterworks	65,331	0	Cost share
Racine Racine Waterworks	10,257	394	Free
Wauwatosa Wauwatosa Waterworks	8,665	0	Owner pays
West Allis West Allis Waterworks	7,719	0	Program pending
Oshkosh Oshkosh Waterworks	6,471	247	Cost share
Sheboygan Sheboygan Water Utilities	4,811	468	Cost share
Superior Superior Water Light & Power Company	4,497	113	Free
Wausau Wausau Waterworks	3,518	62	Free
Beloit City of Beloit	1,955	1,423	Utility program
Neenah Neenah Waterworks	3,318	0	Utility program
Fond Du Lac Fond Du Lac Waterworks	3,116	56	Cost share
Whitefish Bay Whitefish Bay Waterworks	2,436	0	Not confirmed
Shorewood Shorewood Waterworks	2,246	0	Not confirmed
Manitowoc Manitowoc Waterworks	2,144	67	Cost share
Cudahy Cudahy Waterworks	2,151	0	Not confirmed
Kenosha Kenosha Water Utility	1,677	124	Cost share
Beaver Dam Beaver Dam Water Utility	1,072	99	Not confirmed
Menasha Appleton Waterworks	4	727	Cost share

Compare: lead lines in every state · cities with the most lead pipes · free programs in Wisconsin

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Common questions

Who pays to replace lead service lines in Wisconsin?

Is lead service line replacement mandatory in Wisconsin?

No statewide mandate, but some cities, including Appleton and Milwaukee, require replacement by local ordinance.

How many lead service lines are in Wisconsin?

Water systems in Wisconsin reported 146,354 lead service lines, 12,730 galvanized lines that need replacement and 154,053 lines of unknown material to EPA (Q3 2026), across 260 reporting systems.

Where can I get help paying in Wisconsin?

Start with your water utility's program; the table on this page shows what we've confirmed. State money flows through: Wisconsin DNR Safe Drinking Water Loan Program, lead service line principal forgiveness. If your utility has no program, see our guide to paying for replacement.