Lead Service Line Replacements – Lincoln, NE

Lincoln, Nebraska is taking major steps to improve its water infrastructure—and our team is proud to help lead the way. With a strong track record of supporting communities through complex lead service line replacement programs, we’ve partnered with Lincoln Water System to plan, launch, and manage a replacement effort built for long-term success.

In 2024, Lincoln Water System completed its own citywide service line inventory, identifying an estimated 5,000 lines that will need to be replaced. Under federal guidelines, at least 10% of those lines must be replaced each year between 2027 and 2037. To get ahead of the curve, we helped the City design and launch a pilot program in 2024 with an initial goal of completing 200 replacements in the first year and scaling up to 500 replacements annually.

Our role includes full program management—making sure every step aligns with federal regulations, construction standards, and funding requirements. Much of the work is supported through State Revolving Loan Funds made available via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), while the City continues to invest its own capital improvement funds to keep the program moving.

Because Lincoln’s program is voluntary for homeowners, outreach and communication have been essential. Property owner consent is required before any private service lines can be replaced. To overcome challenges such as limited public awareness, language barriers, scheduling difficulties, and even vacant properties, we deployed a targeted public education campaign designed to meet people where they are. The result: a remarkable 95% participation rate in the program’s first year.

As replacements progress, our construction services team is on the ground providing oversight and administration. They ensure federal requirements are met and establish consistent procedures—important when every property has unique underground conditions.

Supporting all of this is our customized GIS-based software solution. Contractors use it directly in the field to record real-time construction information, including before-and-after photos, line measurements, cost estimates, and other essential data. This system not only streamlines work for crews and managers, but also creates a compliant, exportable replacement inventory that meets EPA documentation standards. Once the work is complete, we prepare property-specific reimbursement packages to secure funding approval and close out each replacement.

With a strong start, high homeowner engagement, and an efficient system in place, Lincoln is well positioned to meet federal Lead and Copper Rule requirements—and provide safer drinking water for decades to come.