The pipe that carries city water into the house. In homes built before the mid-1950s to 1960s it may be lead, which is a health concern because lead can leach into drinking water, most when water sits in the pipe, and more with certain water chemistry. Health Canada considers the full removal of a lead service line the most effective, permanent fix, because treatment alone often can't keep levels low enough.
$2,000 to $8,000+ to replace (sometimes cost-shared with the city)Address before purchasePlumbing
The quick answer
A lead water service line, the pipe bringing city water in, common before the mid-1950s to 60s, can leach lead into drinking water, which matters most for young children and during pregnancy. Bring a magnet: lead is soft, dull grey, and non-magnetic. Replacing the private side runs about $2,000 to $8,000+, and many cities cost-share their portion. Confirm with a plumber and a certified water test.
You are reading the lead water service line page. Type the year the house was built and I will tell you what else tends to be true at that age, what it costs, and what to ask. One number, ten seconds.
Free. No account. Educational and impartial, not a home inspection.
Why it matters
It's a health issue, lead exposure is worst for infants, young children, and during pregnancy, and Health Canada's maximum acceptable concentration for lead in drinking water is 0.005 mg/L, lowered from 0.01 mg/L in 2019, with guidance to keep levels "as low as reasonably achievable." Many Canadian cities now run replacement programs and have disclosure expectations, so a lead line affects value and sometimes financing. It's exactly the high-value, hard-to-see detail Casaroo is built to surface, it lives where the water enters, which buyers never look.
How to spot it
At the main shutoff/meter, lead pipe is dull grey, soft, scratches to a shiny silver, and is NOT magnetic (a fridge magnet won't stick, unlike galvanized steel, which is magnetic). A rounded "bulb" or wiped joint near the meter is a classic tell. Note that lead can be on the private side, the city side, or both.
What it costs
Roughly $2,000 to $8,000+ to replace the private portion; some municipalities replace or cost-share the public-side portion. In Toronto, for example, the city offers free at-the-tap lead testing, runs a Priority Lead Water Service Replacement Program for the city-owned portion, and provides a free certified faucet filter when it replaces its side.
What to do
Address before purchase. Have a licensed plumber confirm the material, check your city's lead-service-line program and any disclosure, and consider a certified water test. Use a certified lead-removal filter (look for NSF/ANSI 53) in the meantime.
Education and triage, not a home inspection. Casaroo flags a suspected lead line from the photo at the meter, a plumber and a water test confirm it.
Common questions
Does my city help pay to replace a lead line?
Many Canadian cities run replacement programs for the public-side portion and some cost-share. Toronto, for example, offers free at-the-tap lead testing and replaces its own side under a priority program. Check your municipality before you assume the whole $2,000 to $8,000+ is yours.
How do I tell a lead line from galvanized?
A magnet. Lead is soft, dull grey, scratches to a shiny silver, and a fridge magnet will not stick to it. Galvanized steel is magnetic and it will. A rounded bulb or wiped joint near the meter is the classic lead tell.
Is a water filter enough in the meantime?
A certified lead-removal filter, look for NSF/ANSI 53, is a reasonable interim step, but Health Canada considers full removal of the line the most effective permanent fix because treatment alone often cannot keep levels low enough.
Does a lead line affect the sale price?
It can, and in some cities it now comes with disclosure expectations. It is a documented, priceable finding, which makes it a legitimate negotiation point rather than a surprise you absorb after closing.
Programs vary by municipality. Check your city's; a plumber and water test confirm. Casaroo flags, it does not inspect.
Last reviewed 2026-06-27.
This guide is general education, not a home inspection and not advice for your specific property. Always
consult the appropriate licensed professional, and get a licensed home inspection before you remove conditions
or buy. Cost ranges are 2026 estimates that vary by region, size, and access; confirm specifics with a
qualified professional.