Lead Service Line Replacement Program

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (the Trust) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) are offering 0% percent interest construction loans for lead service line replacement and planning grants for assisting public water suppliers with completing planning projects for lead service line inventories and replacement programs.

Table of Contents

Overview

The goal of these programs is to provide public water suppliers (PWSs) with the resources to replace Lead Service Lines (LSLs). 0% interest loans for construction projects provide deeply discounted funding for the full removal of LSLs.

The planning grant program is to assist PWSs with complying with Lead and Copper Rule revisions. The planning program will offer grants for projects completing these activities.

Additionally, MassDEP will offer direct technical assistance for Community and Non-Transient, Non-Community public water suppliers serving less than 10,000 persons.

0% Interest Loans for LSL Construction Projects

The Trust and MassDEP are excited to announce 0% interest rate loans for LSL construction projects. Zero percent interest loans offer communities substantial savings on construction projects that remediate lead, a critical action in mitigating lead exposure and protecting public health. Further, the Trust offers loan forgiveness to disadvantaged communities completing LSL construction projects in addition to the 0% interest rate.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, please complete the application found on MassDEP’s website.

State Revolving Fund (SRF) Grant

The Trust is offering grants while funding is available for activities assisting PWSs to complete planning projects for Lead Service Line (LSL) inventories and for the development of LSL replacement plans. MassDEP will accept grant applications on a rolling basis while funding is available.

The Trust recommends that PWSs apply as soon as possible to access funding as applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Application instructions and links are available on MassDEP’s website.

The LSL Planning Program grants will follow all SRF requirements but on an expedited schedule. As part of these requirements participating PWSs may be in receipt of federal funds and be responsible for the reporting requirements associated with those funds. Participants will have two years to complete the project from the date of project approval.

Please review the Trust's Grant Agreement for further information and the Additional Subsidy as a Grant guidance document from the US Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Technical Assistance for Small Community Water Systems and Non-Transient, Non-Community Systems

An alternative to the SRF grant, for PWSs serving a population of less than 10,000, MassDEP will use $1.3 million of the set-asides from the DWSRF Lead Service Line Grant to contract with a qualified technical assistance provider to work with the PWS to complete the eligible planning projects detailed below.

The program will be managed and operated by the MassDEP Bureau of Water Resources, Drinking Water Program. Application information is available on MassDEP's webpage. All small systems have the option of applying for the Lead Service Line Planning Grant Program through the SRF program described above.

For inquiries about the technical assistance program please send an email to program.director-dwp@mass.gov (subject: LCRR-Small Systems Grant).

Additional Resources

Eligible Planning Activities

Lead Service Line Inventory

Completing a comprehensive LSL inventory for both public and private LSLs that will be made publicly available as detailed by MassDEP. The lead service line inventory must be reported in a fully electronic format specified by MassDEP or in an alternate format approved by MassDEP that can be readily compiled into their system. For more information see

LSL Replacement Program

Preparing an LSL replacement program for the Public Water Suppliers (PWS) that complies with Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRRs). PWS’s lead service line removal plans need to incorporate the MassDEP goal of protecting public health by planning to remove all lead service lines in 5 years.

About the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions

In 1991 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated regulations known as the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) under the authority of the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act. The LCR helps protect public health by regulating water suppliers on how to treat and control for lead. Finalized in 2021, the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRRs) require all PWSs to complete a full inventory of service lines connected to its distribution system, regardless of if they are owned or controlled by the water system by October 16, 2024. Additionally, the results of the LSL inventory must be accessible to the public. Further, PWSs must also submit a plan to MassDEP by the 2024 deadline detailing how the PWS will prioritize, fund, and fully remove LSLs connected to its distribution system.

For more information on LCRR please visit EPA's website.

Glossary of Terms

  • LCRR - Lead and Copper Rule Revisions 
  • LSL - Lead Service Line
  • MassDEP- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
  • PWS - Public Water Supplier 
  • DWSRF - Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 
  • WIFTA - Water Infrastructure Funding Transfer Act 

Contact   for Lead Service Line Replacement Program

Date published: June 7, 2022

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