DC Water replacement programs
Compare verified public-side and private-side coverage, eligibility rules, and application friction for DC Water.
Programs stay visible only when public-side and private-side coverage, application path, and verification status are locally documented.
Program detail should stay narrower than the marketing copy.
Lead Pipe Replacement Assistance Program
Public side: no public-side work in this program
Private side: yes with approved contractor
Income rules: DOEE reviews income verification to confirm assistance level
Property rules: private-space lead or galvanized or brass with public-space copper
Contractor rules: homeowner must use the approved contractor list
Deadline: No fixed deadline published
Verification: Verified 2026-04-04 / verified
Voluntary Replacement Program
Public side: yes DC Water pays for all work in public space
Private side: yes property owner pays for private property work
Income rules: no published income screen
Property rules: property owner must request replacement and confirm lead on private property
Contractor rules: owner may hire a private plumber or DC Water contractor and must coordinate permits
Deadline: No fixed deadline published
Verification: Verified 2026-04-04 / verified
Before you apply
Screen the program against the actual utility record before you assume full replacement coverage or no-cost private-side work.
Program count
2 verified program record(s)
Lead Pipe Replacement Assistance Program, Voluntary Replacement Program
Public/private split
Coverage differs by program and side of line
Check each program below instead of flattening coverage into a single claim.
Address confirmation path
Official utility lookup available
Make sure the property falls inside the utility's actual program geography before applying.
Notice and inventory context
map-published-with-verified-and-suspected-categories
Use the utility inventory and notice language to decide whether replacement timing is urgent.
Use the utility record before the funding promise.
Step
Confirm whether the utility covers the public side, private side, or both.
Step
Check deadline, property rules, and contractor restrictions before requesting quotes.
Coverage cautions
Coverage caution
Coverage can diverge sharply between public-side and private-side replacement, even inside the same program.
Coverage caution
Income, property, and contractor rules can block a program that otherwise sounds broad.
Route-level evidence behind the local support paths.
DC Water's inventory map uses verified lead suspected lead no information suspected non-lead and verified non-lead categories for parcel lookup.
https://www.dcwater.com/do-you-have-lead-pipes-let-us-help-you-find-out
DC Water publishes lead unknown and galvanized-iron notification letters in multiple languages and directs customers to Lead Free DC at [email protected] or 202-787-4044 for help.
https://www.dcwater.com/resources/lead-free-dc/water-service-line-material-notifications
DC Water says homeowners enrolled in the Lead Pipe Replacement Assistance Program receive a 100 percent discount on eligible private-side replacement after DOEE approval and use of an approved contractor.
DC Water's voluntary full replacement program pays for work in public space while the property owner pays for work on private property when both sides are lead and no capital project is scheduled.