Lead Service Line Replacement Information

In November 2024, the South Milwaukee Water Utility was awarded funding for 2025 Lead Service Line replacements.  The funding amount of up to $11,450,320, a mix of low-interest loans and grant funding, will be utilized to replace properties that had been identified as having a lead service line during a recent inventory done by the South Milwaukee Water Utility. Currently, there are 1,792 known lead service lines within South Milwaukee.

The South Milwaukee Water Utility has been continuously working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for private Lead Service Replacement funding. In October 2023, South Milwaukee applied for lead service line replacement funding for 2025 from the DNR utilizing census tract data from the United States Census Bureau to maximize the amount of potential funding. A total of 3 funding applications were submitted for 4 of our 7 census tract segments. These census tracts were awarded different grant amounts, 75% or 50%. 

As in 2024, the remaining balance on the private side lead service line replacement after grant funding is applied will be eligible to be placed on a 10-year special assessment at an interest rate of 0.25% and paid annually on the property real estate tax bill.  

In 2025 all known lead service lines in census tracts 1704, 1705, and 1706 are scheduled to be replaced. The lead service lines on Michigan Ave, between 4th and 11th Ave, will be replaced as part of the larger transmission line replacement project. Additionally, the lead service lines in the 500, 600, and 700 blocks of Marquette Ave. and Marshall Ave. will be replaced. There are approximately 1,000 lead service lines scheduled to be replaced in 2025.

The remaining lead service lines that are in census tracts 1701, 1703, and 1707 are scheduled to be replaced in 2026. The application for funding for these remaining census tracts was submitted in October of 2024 for a total request of $8,750,000. All lead service lines in census tract 1702 were replaced in 2024.

Property owners with lead service lines will be notified at least 45 days in advance of a scheduled replacement.   

For additional questions regarding the upcoming Lead Service Replacement program, please contact the South Milwaukee Water Utility at 414-304-8739 or WaterUtilityDept@smwi.org.

Additional information:

Private Side and Public Side Water Service Line Photo