Lead Service Line Replacement Funding Program

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, provides $15 billion nationwide in funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) for lead service line (LSL) identification and replacement for over the next five years. California received $250 million in FY 2022, and future allotments are expected in future years. Funding is available to community water systems and nonprofit noncommunity systems to complete LSL inventory and replacement. The Intended Use Plan (IUP) and the Lead Service Line Replacement Funding Supplemental Intended Used Plan provide guideline and funding criteria and will be updated annually.

What's New

How to Apply

An application for the LSLR Program is under development. However, eligible applicants can submit the existing Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Application packages via the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST).

It is recommended that applicants use the Division of Drinking Water (DDW) inventory template that contains the minimum information required to comply with the LCRR. The inventory template can be used as a deliverable under an inventory project or as part of the application for a replacement project.

Eligible Entities

Community water systems and nonprofit noncommunity water systems.

Funding Eligibility

Water systems serving disadvantaged communities are eligible to receive up to 100% principal forgiveness. Water systems serving non-disadvantaged communities are eligible to receive loan at zero percent (0%) interest rate.

Project Eligibility

All projects funded under the LSLR funding program must comply with all DWSRF eligibility requirements. Replacement of a lead service line must replace the entire lead service line, not just a portion, unless a portion has already been replaced or is concurrently being replaced with another funding source. The Deputy Director of DFA may execute agreements for 100% principal forgiveness (PF) to disadvantaged communities if the demand for 100% repayable loan funding appears sufficient to result in the 49% PF ratio for LSLR funding under federal requirements. Loan funding agreements to non-disadvantaged community water systems may include the possibility of PF for work done in a disadvantaged community within the service area, depending on the demand for funding.

Some examples of eligible projects and activities include the following:

  • Complete removal of lead service lines (public and privately owned portion) and Galvanized Required Replacement (GRR).
  • Removal of lead or galvanized goosenecks, pigtails, and connectors.
  • Replacement of curb stops, curb stop boxes, and other service line appurtenances that are removed as part of full LSLR.
  • Site restoration, including landscaping, sidewalks, driveways, etc. if the removal was necessary to replace the lead service line.
  • Permit fees if the fees are normal, required, and specific to the LSLR.
  • Temporary pitcher filters or point-of-use (POU) devices certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead during or for a short time period after LSLR projects.
  • Development or updating of lead service line inventories, including locating and mapping lead service lines.
  • Methods of investigation to develop inventories could include visual observation, water quality sampling (non-compliance), excavation, vacuum or hydro-excavation, statistical analysis, or other emerging technologies.
  • Planning and design for infrastructure projects listed above.
  • Non-routine lead sampling (if not for compliance purposes) as part of a LSLR project.

Additional Information

Contact Us

DFA-LSLR@waterboards.ca.gov