Halifax Water's Get the Lead Out program aims to replace all lead service lines by 2038, on both the public and private sides, at no cost to the property owner, funding up to $20,000 per replacement including reinstatement. Owners who replace their own side independently can instead claim a rebate of 25 percent of the cost, up to $5,000 (as checked September 2026).
- Halifax Water owns the service from the shut-off valve near the property line to the main; the owner owns it from the property line into the house.
- Get the Lead Out replaces lead on both sides at no cost to the owner, with Halifax Water funding up to $20,000 per replacement.
- The utility estimates about 3,500 properties may have lead service lines, all in older areas built before 1960.
- Owners who replace on their own can claim 25 percent of the cost back, to a maximum of $5,000, after an inspection before backfill.
- A Lateral Loan of up to $10,000, less any rebate, is available at prime plus 2 percent.
01 /Which Halifax properties have lead service lines?
Halifax Water says the only properties that could have a lead service line were built before 1960 within peninsular Halifax and the older areas of Dartmouth, and it estimates about 3,500 properties may have one. That is a narrow and well-mapped group compared with many cities, which is why the utility can plan to finish the job on a set date. If your home is newer or outside those areas, lead in the service is not expected, though lead solder and older fixtures are a separate question.
Ownership follows the usual pattern with one nuance: Halifax Water says it owns the portion from the shut-off valve near the property line to the water main, and the property owner owns the portion from the property line into the house. You can check the pipe entering your basement with the steps in how to identify a lead water pipe.
02 /How does Get the Lead Out work?
Launched in 2020, the program changed the approach from owner-paid private replacement to utility-funded replacement of both sides. Halifax Water says replacements are completed at no cost to the property owner, that it can fund up to $20,000 per replacement including reinstatement work, and that the owner pays anything above that. It also says the earlier approach would have left lead lines in the ground well into the 2050s, which is why it set a 2038 target instead.
- Scheduling with paving
Most replacements are coordinated with the municipality's street paving program, so the street is dug once.
- Priority households
A limited number of individual replacements are prioritized for at-risk households: children under six, and pregnant or breastfeeding people.
- Both sides together
The public and private sections are replaced in the same job, avoiding a partial replacement.
- Reinstatement
Restoration is included in the funded amount, up to the per-replacement limit.
03 /Can I replace my side sooner and still get help?
Yes. For owners who do not want to wait for their street, Halifax Water offers a rebate of 25 percent of the total cost, up to a maximum of $5,000, for private-side replacements completed on or after August 22, 2017. The work must be inspected by Halifax Water before the trench is backfilled, so book that inspection when you book the contractor. If the public side is also lead, Halifax Water replaces it at its own expense, and only contractors on its list may work on the public side.
| Route | Who arranges it | Owner pays | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get the Lead Out, scheduled | Halifax Water | Nothing up to $20,000 per replacement; any excess | With street paving, by 2038 |
| Get the Lead Out, priority household | Halifax Water | Same | Limited individual replacements |
| Owner replaces private side first | Owner and contractor | The cost, less a 25% rebate up to $5,000 | When you choose; inspection before backfill |
Halifax Water's Lateral Loan can spread the owner's share: up to $10,000 less any Halifax Water rebates, over 12 to 60 months, at prime plus 2 percent. There is no credit check, the loan is secured by a lien on the property, and payments are separate from the water bill. It is a loan against the property, not property-tax financing. The cost page sets these terms beside other cities' help.
04 /How do I get lead testing and a filter in Halifax?
Halifax Water provides free lead sampling to customers who have a lead service line, and program participants receive a filter pitcher and six cartridges. The utility also treats the water with zinc orthophosphate for corrosion control. Until the pipe is replaced, filter or use bottled water for drinking, cooking and infant formula, and follow the flushing advice after any work nearby. The lead testing guide explains what a sample can and cannot tell you.
- Check your pipe at the meter, or run the Lead Water Line Check.
- Email lead@halifaxwater.ca or call Customer Care at 902-420-9287 to confirm whether your property is on the lead list and when your street is planned.
- If you qualify as a priority household, ask about an individual replacement.
- If you prefer to go first, get quotes, book the pre-backfill inspection and keep every invoice for the rebate.
Quotes for a private-side replacement can be requested here. The general mechanics of a both-sides job are in the lead service line replacement guide.
FAQQuestions people ask
Does Halifax Water charge to replace a lead service line?
Not under Get the Lead Out, which covers both sides at no cost to the owner up to $20,000 per replacement including reinstatement.
When will Halifax finish replacing lead service lines?
Halifax Water says its Get the Lead Out program will replace all lead service lines by 2038.
What rebate does Halifax Water give if I replace my own lead line?
Twenty-five percent of the total cost, up to $5,000, for private work done on or after August 22, 2017 and inspected before backfill.
How many Halifax homes have lead service lines?
Halifax Water estimates about 3,500 properties may, all built before 1960 in peninsular Halifax and older parts of Dartmouth.
