Lead Service Line Replacement in Toronto

Three quick checks: (1) Year built — homes built before ~1955 are highest risk; after 1955 lead was phased out as standard service material. (2) Magnet test at the meter — copper/brass is non-magnetic, lead is non-magnetic but soft and dull grey; galvanized steel is magnetic. (3) Scratch test — gently scratch the pipe with a key; lead reveals shiny silver beneath the dull surface. (4) Definitive: City of Toronto Lead Service Search at Toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/tap-water-in-Toronto — enter your address. (5) Lab water test for lead from your kitchen tap (Caduceon, SGS, ALS — $50–$120) is the gold standard.

The City replaces its portion of the lead service line (from the curb-stop to the watermain) at no cost when the homeowner commits to replacing the private side. The City also provides a free NSF 53 lead-rated faucet filter while the work is pending, restores temporary asphalt / concrete after the dig, and follows up with permanent restoration within 12–24 months. Homeowners pay only for their private-side replacement (~$4,500–$14,000 typical).

Partial replacement (only the City side or only the private side) creates galvanic action between the new copper and the remaining lead — accelerating lead leaching for 6–24 months post-replacement. EPA and Health Canada both warn against it. The PLWSRP program specifically requires both sides to be replaced together. If you cannot afford the private side immediately, the City's free NSF 53 faucet filter is the bridging strategy until you can.

Trenchless adds $2,000–$4,000 to the quote but saves driveways, front gardens, and mature street trees from being excavated. For most central-Toronto lots with mature landscaping, trenchless pays back in restoration savings alone. Traditional trench is fine for newer suburban lots with simple front yards. Run length over 50 feet often favours trenchless on cost. We discuss both in the quote.

Possibly. The City of Toronto has imposed road-work restrictions in zones related to FIFA World Cup 26 hosting from May 1 to July 31, 2026. Properties in restricted zones must apply outside that window. We verify your property's restriction status before scheduling — the rule of thumb is that downtown core, FIFA fan-zone perimeters, and stadium-area arteries are most affected. Suburban Toronto is largely unaffected.