---
title: "Charleston Water Offers Free Lead Pipe Swaps in Charleston"
url: https://www.herecharleston.com/2026/10/22/charleston-water-free-lead-pipe-replacement-peninsula/
date: 2026-10-22T06:46:27-04:00
modified: 2026-10-22T06:46:27-04:00
author: "Esteban Silva"
categories: ["Health"]
site: "HERE Charleston"
attribution: "HERE Charleston"
---

# Charleston Water Offers Free Lead Pipe Swaps in Charleston

> CHARLESTON, S.C. — Homeowners on the Charleston peninsula and in North Charleston can get the lead water line running into their house swapped out for copper at no charge under a Charleston Water System program now getting started. The utility says lead is likely in the service lines that feed homes in those two areas.

*Source: [HERE Charleston](https://www.herecharleston.com/2026/10/22/charleston-water-free-lead-pipe-replacement-peninsula/) — October 22, 2026 by Esteban Silva*

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Homeowners on the Charleston peninsula and in North Charleston can get the lead water line running into their house swapped out for copper at no charge under a Charleston Water System program now getting started.

The utility says lead is likely in the service lines that feed homes in those two areas. Crews will replace both the public pipe and the private line that runs to each house, with work planned at close to 1,000 sites. The official project plan calls for removing 1,070 lead service lines in all.

Paying for it is the state Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program. Two state agencies oversee that fund, South Carolina’s Department of Environmental Services and its Rural Infrastructure Authority, and the Environmental Protection Agency puts in federal money.

Crews are working in North Charleston first and expect to shift south toward the peninsula by the end of the year. Utility spokesman Mike Saia said a homeowner paying privately could spend $2,000 to $4,000 on a short line, and far more on a long one, so he urged eligible owners to enroll early to help crews plan.

Sign-ups are taken at either Charleston Water System office, and owners can opt out at any time. The utility plans to mail several rounds of letters to eligible property owners and later go door to door.