Press Release

PUC Approves Aqua PA’s Lead Service Line Replacement Plan

Published on 4/10/2025

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

Aqua Replacing up to 1,500 Customer-Owned Lead Service Lines per Year

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a Joint Petition of Settlement (Settlement) for the Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Program of Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. (Aqua).

The Commission voted 5-0 to adopt the recommended decision issued March 13, 2025, by PUC Administrative Law Judges Gail M. Chiodo and Alphonso Arnold III related to Aqua’s LSLR efforts – including the ongoing replacement of both company-owned (from the company’s main to the curb line) and customer-owned (from the curb line to the customer’s structure) lead service lines (COLSLs) in their water service territory.

“This settlement will help ensure that Aqua’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program is conducted in a just and equitable manner by targeting areas with populations at a greater risk of lead exposure,” said Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss.  “I’m pleased that all parties have agreed to the plan, which includes Aqua’s use of available mapping and screening tools to identify environmental justice areas and areas where children are at higher risk of lead exposure for targeting of inventory and replacement.

“I encourage all parties appearing before the Commission to work together, like we’ve seen here today, to identify and raise similar issues in future cases.”

The settlement was reached among Aqua, the Office of Consumer Advocate, the Office of Small Business Advocate, and the Coalition for Affordable Utility Services and Energy Efficiency in Pennsylvania.  Aqua provides water service to approximately 450,000 customers across 32 counties in Pennsylvania.

Aqua’s LSLR Program

Aqua’s LSLR Program, in conjunction with its Third Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP), will advance Aqua’s efforts to improve water quality and system reliability through the following:

1. Service Line Inventory – Completing a study to identify lead and galvanized service lines.
   
   
2. Planning and Replacements – Replacing company-owned and customer-owned lead service lines (LSLs), as identified through in Service Line Inventory, to be completed by Dec. 31, 2034.
   
   
3. Communications, Outreach and Education – Utilizing printed and broadcast materials as well as the company’s website, to heighten customer’s awareness on the sources and health effects of lead; the company’s compliance with lead requirements; how residents can protect against lead exposure; and a help line for residents requiring assistance in determining their service line materials. Consumer outreach will also include information about how consumers can participate in other income-qualified assistance programs.

Related to the company’s prioritization schedule, under the approved settlement Aqua will use PennEnviroScreen, a tool provided by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection, as well as Justice40 Initiative tools to identify environmental justice areas and high levels of children’s lead risk for the targeting of inventory and replacement.  Additionally, Aqua will prioritize LSLR for individual properties in the following manner:

• Emergency repairs revealing LSLs.
• Homes with elevated lead concentrations in tap samples.
• Schools and licensed day care facilities.
• Homeowners that request replacements.
• Homeowners in systems that do not have widespread LSLs.

For systems, Aqua will prioritize LSLR in the following manner:

• Systems with higher projected lead replacement or Galvanized Requiring Replacement (GRR).
• Systems where PENNVEST or other funding is available.
• Systems with aging water mains that require replacement.

Under the plan approved today, Aqua may replace up to 1,500 COLSLs annually, with an overall systemwide goal of replacing more than 11,400 COLSLs.

Act 120 of 2018 (Act 120)

Act 120 amended the Public Utility Code to address the accelerated replacement of customer-owned lead service lines and damaged wastewater sewer laterals.  In 2022 the PUC advanced a final rulemaking that set uniform, minimum standards regarding the replacement of these lines and laterals, including the recovery of associated costs.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Docket No.: P-2023-3044459

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov
• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov