North Dakota Cities Hunt for Hazardous Lead Water Pipes

Communities work to identify and replace lead and galvanized service lines to protect public health

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:18am

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North Dakota's public water systems have spent several years creating inventories of their service lines to find pipes made of lead, which pose a health threat. Now, communities are beginning to use that information to replace both public and private lead and galvanized lines. The EPA's new Lead and Copper Rule Improvements will require cities to begin replacing their lead lines by 2027, with a deadline of 2037 to complete the process.

Why it matters

Lead exposure can impact nearly every organ and bodily system, with children being particularly vulnerable. Even low levels of lead exposure can affect intelligence, behavior, and ability to learn. The EPA has classified lead as a probable human carcinogen. Replacing lead and galvanized service lines is crucial to protecting public health in North Dakota communities.

The details

North Dakota is estimated to have fewer than 20,000 lead and galvanized lines, while neighboring Minnesota is estimated to have between 40,000 and 150,000. Water systems had until October 2024 to submit a preliminary inventory of their service lines to state regulators. Many had 'unknown' lines in their 2024 inventories and have since been working to inspect those pipes. Some communities have already begun replacements, ahead of the new EPA rule that will require cities to begin replacing their lines by 2027, with a deadline of 2037 to complete the process. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has provided funding to help communities finance the replacement of lead service lines.

  • In 2021, the EPA required water systems to begin mapping their service lines.
  • By October 2024, water systems had to submit a preliminary inventory of their service lines to state regulators.
  • The new EPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements will go into effect in November 2027, requiring cities to begin replacing their lead lines.
  • Cities will have until 2037 to complete the replacement of all lead and galvanized service lines.

The players

North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality

The state agency that manages the Lead and Copper Rule for North Dakota.

North Dakota Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

A low-interest loan program that helps communities finance water infrastructure projects, including the replacement of lead service lines.

Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services (AE2S)

An engineering firm working with more than 30 water systems across North Dakota to help them complete their service line inventories.

Brian Matzke

The public works director for the city of West Fargo.

Eric Lothspeich

A project manager at AE2S working in Mandan.

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What they’re saying

“We got lucky — Bismarck, Fargo and Mandan, some of those … they ain't good. They've got a headache coming their way.”

— Brian Matzke, Public Works Director, City of West Fargo

“I wouldn't want to tell somebody that that's what it's going to cost, 'cause it's hard to know for sure. But if you just do the math … if you say it's $10,000 per service line and you have 200 of them, you're looking at about $2 million.”

— Eric Lothspeich, Project Manager, AE2S

What’s next

As inspections continue, communities in North Dakota expect to find hundreds of lead and galvanized service lines that will need to be replaced. The replacement process will ramp up in the coming years as cities work to meet the EPA's 2027 deadline to begin the replacements, with a final deadline of 2037 to complete the process.

The takeaway

The effort to identify and replace hazardous lead and galvanized water pipes in North Dakota highlights the significant public health challenge facing many communities across the country. The new EPA regulations and federal funding provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are crucial to helping cities tackle this issue and protect residents from the dangers of lead exposure.