State guide
New Jersey
New Jersey has one of the clearest statewide lead-service-line mandates in the country. NJDEP says the 2021 law requires water systems to inventory lines, notify residents, and replace lead service lines on both the utility side and customer side within the statutory timeline, while ownership and routine repair responsibility still vary by local utility.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who usually owns the water service line
- New Jersey law defines a service line broadly from the water main to the building and requires lead-line replacement on both the system side and property-owner side, but ordinary ownership splits still vary by utility.
- State drinking water program
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Supply & Geoscience / Bureau of Safe Drinking Water
- State lead service line page
- Official page →
- Permits for repair or replacement
- Not published by an official source we could verify. Ask the office.
- Assistance programs
- NJ Water Bank materials say funding can cover full lead service line replacements, and large-city programs such as Newark’s and Camden’s have replaced customer-owned lead lines at no cost in program areas.
Official resources in New Jersey
State drinking-water program page explaining NJDEP’s Safe Drinking Water Act compliance and permitting role.
NJDEP’s main lead page with consumer guidance and links on lead service line replacement.
State page summarizing New Jersey’s lead line identification, notification, and replacement requirements.
Official Newark FAQ with leak-responsibility language for owners and service-line responsibility details.
Official Camden utility-operations page with service contacts, lead-line information, and bill-assistance link.
Key facts for New Jersey
- New Jersey’s 2021 law requires service-line inventories, resident notices, and replacement of all lead service lines within 10 years.
- NJDEP says public community water systems must replace all known lead service lines, with possible extension up to 2036 in some cases.
- NJ Water Bank materials say a full replacement can include customer-owned portions; replacing only the public side is generally not allowed except emergencies.
- Newark says the homeowner is responsible for the line from the water main to the property line and for pipes within the house.
- Camden’s lead FAQ says the City owns the service line from the main to the curb; the owner owns the rest into the building.
- Perth Amboy’s utility notice says lead or galvanized service lines must be replaced from the street main to the water meter.
Utility water service line rules in New Jersey
| Utility | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| NJDEP Bureau of Safe Drinking Water Mercer | Trenton | Not published* | State office for public drinking-water compliance, lead questions, and water-supply complaints. |
| Department of Water & Sewer Utilities Essex | Newark | +1 (973)-733-6303 | Main Newark utility office; the utility also offers no-cost service-line inspections on request. |
| Newark Water and Sewer Emergency Call Center Essex | Newark | 973-733-3654 | Call for suspected underground or service leaks; Newark says it will determine whether the leak is on or off property. |
| American Water Contract Services Camden Operations Center Camden | Camden | 1-855-769-3164 | Customer service office for Camden water customers; page also links bill-payment assistance and lead-line information. |
| American Water Emergency Line Camden | Camden | 1-856-635-1496 | 24/7 emergency number for main breaks, water quality issues, outages, and leaks in Camden. |
| Utility Service Affiliates Water Service Department Middlesex | Perth Amboy | 732-826-5335 | Perth Amboy water-service contact listed on the city water utility page. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Check your utility’s inventory or map first; New Jersey utilities must tell customers the known material on both utility-owned and customer-owned sides, if known.
- Before hiring a plumber, ask your utility whether your property is in an active lead replacement program that can coordinate a full replacement.
- If your utility confirms lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement material, contact the utility before replacing the private side so records and any available funding are coordinated.
Not seeing your utility or county?
We list a utility only when an official government page publishes its rules. If yours isn't in the table above, it may not publish them online yet. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across New Jersey, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from New Jersey's population center, for comparison only):
- NYC DEP Bureau of Customer Service, New York · about 31 miles
- DEP Service Line Protection Program, New York · about 31 miles
- Philadelphia Water Department, Pennsylvania · about 47 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.NJDEP Bureau of Safe Drinking Water
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the New Jersey page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- Who is responsible for the water line to your house?
- The curb stop, meter and property line, explained
- Water line leak in your yard: what to do
- Water service line replacement costs
Water line responsibility check →