Lead Pipe Data by Area — Delaware

Lead pipe replacement law in Delaware

Delaware has not set its own state-specific lead service line replacement deadline beyond the federal requirement below. The rule is implemented through the Delaware Division of Public Health's Office of Drinking Water under 16 Del. C. Section 4462, which mirrors the federal action-level-triggered replacement requirement rather than an independent statewide timeline; every public water system was required to submit a baseline inventory by October 16, 2024 under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements.

Separately from any state law, the EPA's federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements require every water system nationwide to submit a baseline inventory and an approved replacement plan by November 1, 2027, then fully replace all lead and "galvanized requiring replacement" lines under its control on a schedule of 10 years or less from that date, replacing at least 10% of its known lead/GRR lines per year. A narrow exception allows a longer schedule only for the roughly 1% of systems with an unusually dense concentration of lead lines, and partial (non-emergency) replacements are prohibited.

• Delaware Division of Public Health: Lead and Copper Rule Guidance →
• Delaware Administrative Code, Title 16, Section 4462 →
• EPA LCRI technical fact sheet: states and public water systems →
• EPA LCRI technical fact sheet: deferred deadlines →