Shorewood's Lead Service Line Replacement Program

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With the 2022 adoption of its Lead Service Line Replacement Program (Policy 44 and Ordinance 3043), the Village of Shorewood stated its goal to remove all lead service lines - public and private - from the Village's water system within 20 years. The subsequent release of the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) has set a standard of 10 years for public water utilities to replace all public and private lead service lines within their systems. Regardless of the time frame, the implementation of this program begins a commitment to a monumental infrastructure investment. 

The replacement of public and private lead services lines will drive the development of the Village’s infrastructure projects for the foreseeable future. Since the year 2000, the Village of Shorewood has replaced the municipal portion of existing lead water services with copper. However, the replacement of the water main has not kept pace with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission's recommended replacement rates. In many locations, the age and condition of the existing water main will not permit the connection of dozens of new services in each block. The necessary replacement of water main in many areas exponentially increases the costs of lead service line replacement. 

Who is Required to Replace their Service? 


Effective September 30, 2022 replacement of all utility and customer lead service lines is mandatory:

  • at the time of a utility water main replacement, 
  • if repair of the private or public service line is deemed necessary; or 
  • during any project to replace lead service lines (Ordinance 3043 amending Village Code 514-12).

For further information, see the Village of Shorewood Lead Service Replacement Program document.

When Will My Service Be Replaced?


A comprehensive schedule is in development. The Water Utility is analyzing how lead service line replacement can be coordinated with the Village's other infrastructure needs and priorities to create the most cost-effective and efficient program possible. Currently known projects will be expanded to incorporate comprehensive service line replacement and include:

What's the Cost?

Service line replacement costs will vary. All property owners will be eligible for Water Utility financial assistance to replace the customer owned lead service lines when work is done in conjunction with an identified water utility project subject to the Lead Service Line Replacement Program.

The Water Utility’s financial assistance will cover up 50% of the cost of replacing the property owner portion of the lead service line. The remaining cost will be the responsibility of the property owner being served by the service line. Upon request, the property owner may elect to pay for these costs in the form of a loan from the Utility to be repaid in twelve (12) equal installments on the next twelve (12) utility bills for the property. Loan balances may be prepaid without penalty; any past due loan balances may be placed on the property tax roll. Neither the Water Utility nor the Village of Shorewood are allowed to forgive unpaid loan balances.