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Notice/Advertisement Title: Lead Service Line Replacement Program -- Coverage and Prioritization of Service Line Replacements
Contact Name: Emilie Eskridge
Contact Telephone Number: (614) 645-2509
Contact Email Address: EVEskridge@columbus.gov
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RULE AND REGULATION NO. 26-04 May 2026
Division of Water
Columbus Water & Power
SUBJECT: LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM - COVERAGE AND PRIORITIZATION OF SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENTS
Pursuant to the authority granted under Columbus City Code Chapters 1101 and 1119, the Director of Columbus Water & Power hereby adopts, establishes, and publishes this rule and regulation to be effective at the earliest date allowed by law. This rule and regulation supersedes Division of Water Rule and Regulation 25-01, published January 18, 2025 and January 25, 2025. This rule and regulation is in addition to any established requirements that have not been superseded or rescinded by this or any previous act.
The Lead Service Line Replacement Program (the “Program”) was established by the adoption of Chapter 1119 of the Columbus City Codes.
APPLICATION:
This rule and regulation applies to every Lead Service Line, as defined in City Code Section 1119.02(A), connected to the public water system of the City of Columbus, Division of Water, in the City of Columbus. Due to the inability to verify that galvanized service lines were never downstream of lead, all galvanized lines shall be considered to be Galvanized Requiring Replacement as defined in City Code Section 1119.02(B) and therefore subject to this rule and regulation as a Lead Service Line.
This rule and regulation does not apply to service lines located within water distribution systems owned by other political subdivisions but operated, under contract, by the City of Columbus, Division of Water for which the Ohio EPA considers the City of Columbus, Division of Water to be the water purveyor, as the replacement of those service lines will be managed through that political subdivision’s contract, or to master-metered public water systems that purchase water from the City of Columbus and who are considered their own public water system by the Ohio EPA.
SERVICE LINES COVERED BY THE SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM:
Lead Service Line replacement by the City is subject and limited to the amount of funding authorized by Columbus City Council and appropriated by the Columbus City Auditor for this purpose. Lead Service Lines eligible for replacement include all public lead service lines and:
• The Infrastructure Maintenance Pathway - Private Lead Service Lines located within or adjacent to an area that is undergoing infrastructure work and that is scheduled for replacement by the Division of Water.
• The Emergency Repair Replacement Pathway - Private Lead Service Lines connected to a public service line or water main when the public side is replaced by the Division of Water during emergency repairs and Private Lead Service Lines that are replaced due to emergency repairs on the private side of the service line if the Private Lead Service Line is owned by a customer that is eligible to receive the income qualified discount under Columbus City Codes Section 1105.21.
• The Street-By-Street Pathway - Private Lead Service Lines within a designated area that is scheduled for replacement by the Division of Water. The Division of Water’s criteria for scheduling streets for replacements will be determined by the prioritization schedule set forth below.
• The Schools and Daycares Pathway - Private Lead Service Lines serving a school or licensed daycare.
Service lines not eligible for covered replacement within the Program include:
• Owner-initiated, voluntarily replaced private Lead Service Lines.
• Private Lead Service Lines that are replaced due to emergency repairs on the private side of the service line, unless they are owned by a customer that is eligible to receive the income qualified discount under City Code Section 1105.21.
Final determinations regarding eligibility for replacement of private Lead Service Lines will be made by the Director based on the feasibility of replacement and availability of funding.
PRIORITIZATION:
The replacement of Lead Service Lines through the Street-By-Street Pathway will be prioritized based on a model developed by Columbus Water & Power. The prioritization schedule does not apply to service lines replaced during the Division of Water’s other three pathways: Infrastructure Maintenance, Emergency Repairs Replacement, or Schools and Daycares.
Prioritization will comply with applicable federal and state rules and may be based on factors including service line inventory data, blood lead level indicators, sensitive populations, and communities that are disproportionately affected by lead.
The final scheduling of individual replacements will also incorporate structural and economic efficiencies, such as coordinating work with other City departments and complying with work moratoriums due to other City ordinances.