What DEP's Lead Service Line Inventory Says About NYC
Under the federal Lead and Copper Rule, DEP had to classify the water service line serving every property in the five boroughs and publish the results. The service line — the pipe from the water main in the street to the building — is privately owned and the owner's responsibility, from the main all the way in. Here is the citywide picture from the January 2026 inventory:
117,561
Lead service lines on record
114,473
Material unknown to DEP
3,050
Galvanized lines requiring replacement
~393,000
"Non-lead" by records review or model only (not field-verified)
| Borough | Lead | Galvanized (RR) | Unknown | Needs action | Total lots |
|---|
| Manhattan | 3,818 | 578 | 6,123 | 10,519 | 42,121 |
| Bronx | 14,889 | 297 | 5,663 | 20,849 | 89,334 |
| Brooklyn | 33,397 | 427 | 57,538 | 91,362 | 275,774 |
| Queens | 58,436 | 1,609 | 34,661 | 94,706 | 324,249 |
| Staten Island | 7,021 | 139 | 10,488 | 17,648 | 125,434 |
Source: NYC DEP Lead Service Line Location Coordinates, NYC Open Data (jqfp-uff7), snapshot updated January 29, 2026. "Needs action" = lead + galvanized + unknown.
What Your DEP Record Means
Lead, or Galvanized Requiring Replacement
You receive an annual DEP lead notice. Under the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements every lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement line must be replaced within 10 years of November 2027. If the line was already replaced with copper, DEP often still has it on record as lead — a plumber inspection and record correction stops the notices.
Unknown
DEP has no record of the material and must keep notifying you as "potentially lead" every year. A one-time inspection by a licensed master plumber settles it: if the line is copper, the record is corrected and the notices end; if it is lead, you get ahead of the replacement clock.
Non-Lead by "Records" or "Predictive Model"
About two-thirds of NYC's non-lead records were never physically inspected. For a sale, refinance, co-op/condo board, or tenant disclosure, a documented inspection turns a paper record into a verified one.
Non-Lead by Field Inspection or Excavation
DEP has confirmed the material. Keep the record with your building's compliance file — nothing else to do.
Where the law stands (October 2026). The notices come from the federal Lead and Copper Rule (40 CFR 141.84–141.85), which requires DEP to notify owners of lead, galvanized, and unknown lines every year. NYC Council bill Int 0870-2026 (introduced April 30, 2026, in committee) would require every private owner to replace lead service lines within 10 years and file a licensed master plumber certification with DEP, with penalties of up to $1,000 for failing to replace and $500 for failing to certify. Separately, DEP issues a 45-day replacement notice when a lead or galvanized line is found during a water meter installation. DEP's free replacement program covers only targeted low-income neighborhoods; everywhere else the owner pays, typically $8,000–$12,000+.
How Insparisk Handles It
- Pull the DEP record. We confirm what DEP has on file for your BBL, how it was determined, and whether a notice or 45-day letter applies.
- Licensed master plumber verification. A visual inspection at the point of entry (and curb box / excavation where needed) documents the material of the full line, not just the repaired section near the meter.
- DEP record correction. If the line is copper or already replaced, we prepare and submit the documentation so DEP's inventory is corrected and the annual notices stop.
- Replacement planning. If the line is lead or galvanized, we coordinate licensed master plumber replacement, DEP permits and the self-certification filing, and check whether your property qualifies for DEP's free program first.
- Portfolio tracking. For owners and managers with multiple buildings, every lot is loaded into Insparisk Command with its DEP status, notice history, and verification documents.
Who Should Check Now
- Any owner who received a DEP lead, galvanized, or "unknown material" notice
- Owners who replaced their line but still get notices (record never updated)
- Buildings in Brooklyn and Queens, which hold three-quarters of the city's lead and unknown lines
- Properties being sold, refinanced, or converted — buyers and lenders are starting to ask
- Multifamily owners with tenant-disclosure obligations and child-care tenants
- Portfolio managers who want every lot's status on one dashboard before Int 0870 passes
Verify Your Service Line
One inspection ends the annual notices or starts your replacement plan on your schedule, not DEP's.
Request a Quote