Lead Service Lines in Flint, Michigan

What you need to know

The City of Flint serves approximately 81,252 residents. Like many older cities in the Midwest, Flint used lead service lines to connect homes to the water main in the past. Lead service lines are pipes made of lead that carry drinking water from the street into your home.

Lead is a toxic metal that can harm health, especially in children and pregnant people. Even low levels matter. If your home was built before the 1980s and is in Flint, there's a meaningful chance your service line contains lead.

What Flint's inventory shows

The City of Flint has not yet completed a full public inventory of lead service lines in the system. This means the city does not yet have a documented count of how many lead, galvanized, or unknown service lines exist in its water system.

This is not unusual for cities rebuilding their records after the water crisis. An inventory takes time to complete and requires field investigation—workers must physically check pipes or dig records that may be decades old.

What you can do now

Check your own home. Your service line runs from the street shutoff to your meter (usually in your basement or under the sidewalk). A simple test: use a screwdriver or key to gently scratch a fitting or visible pipe. If the metal underneath is shiny and silver, it may be lead. If it's magnetic (a magnet sticks), it's likely steel. Do not rely on this alone—hire a licensed plumber to inspect or test a sample if you're unsure.

Know your risk. Homes built before 1950 in Flint are at higher risk. Homes built 1950–1980 have moderate risk. Homes after 1980 are unlikely to have lead service lines.

Get your water tested. Even if you have a lead service line, corrosion control and other factors affect actual lead levels in your tap water. Contact the City of Flint to ask about free or low-cost testing, or use a certified lab.

Contact the city for a replacement estimate. Replacing a lead service line costs $3,000–$15,000 depending on depth and length. Ask Flint about any grant or cost-sharing programs.

Next steps for residents

• Call the City of Flint Water Department to ask about the status of the lead service line inventory and any replacement programs available to you.
• Have a licensed plumber inspect your service line if your home was built before 1980.
• Request a free or low-cost water test from your utility to check current lead levels in your tap water.
• If you have children or are pregnant, consult your pediatrician or doctor about testing and prevention steps.

```json [ { "q": "How do I know if I have a lead service line in Flint?", "a": "The most reliable way is to have a licensed plumber inspect the service line that runs from the street to your meter. You can do a quick scratch test on visible fittings—lead is soft and shiny underneath—but this is not definitive. Homes built before 1950 in Flint are at highest risk." }, { "q": "Is lead in Flint water safe to drink?", "a": "Lead at any level is not ideal, especially for children and pregnant people. The only way to know your actual lead level is to test your tap water. Contact the City of Flint Water Department to ask about free or low-cost testing." }, { "q": "Does Flint have a lead service line replacement program?", "a": "The city is working on strategies to replace lead service lines. Contact the City of Flint Water Department directly to ask about grants, cost-sharing, or replacement programs you may qualify for." }, { "q": "What should I do if my child has been drinking water from a lead service line?",