Lead Water Service Replacement in Toronto & the GTA

Every job Tornado Plumbing & Drains completes in Toronto and the GTA — repair, install, replacement, drain work, sewer work, fixture work — is backed by a 25-year workmanship warranty. The written terms are provided with every quote. If our work fails within 25 years of the install date, we come back and make it right.

The private side is the buried run from the city tap at your property line to the shutoff valve inside the building — typically a half- to three-quarter-inch lead pipe that surfaces through the basement or crawlspace floor near the meter. Pulling that section out is what physically removes the lead source, which a filter or flushing routine can only mitigate. Depending on the route, depth, and what sits above it (driveway, walkway, landscaping), we run the new line by open-cut trench or pull it through trenchlessly to limit surface damage; on long or deeply buried services the trenchless water line replacement method usually means far less digging across your yard.

Lead from the service line dissolves into drinking water, especially in still water that has been sitting in the pipe overnight. Health Canada and Toronto Public Health recommend replacing lead service lines. The most effective replacement is full — both public side and private side — because partial replacement can temporarily increase lead release.

Toronto runs the Priority Lead Water Service Replacement Program for the public side of the line — the section from the watermain in the street to your property line. The City owns and pays to replace that public portion; the private side, from the property line into the home, is the homeowner's responsibility. As of June 2026, the City offers two ways to do this: (1) you arrange for the City's contractor to replace the private and public sides at the same time (you pay for your portion), or (2) you hire your own licensed plumber to replace the private side first, then apply to the City — with proof that the private side is no longer lead (a contractor or licensed plumber's invoice, or a home inspector's report) — to have the City replace its side on a priority basis. Either way, replacing both sides together avoids a partial replacement, which can temporarily increase lead release into your water. When you go the private-first route, the City aims to replace its portion within about 12 weeks; the contractor temporarily restores any concrete or asphalt, and permanent surface restoration by the City follows within roughly 18 to 24 months. We handle the private-side replacement and coordinate timing so both sides come out together, and we can upsize the line at the same time if you also need a water service upgrade. Confirm current eligibility, the two options, and how to apply on the City of Toronto's Priority Lead Water Service Replacement Program page. One 2026 timing note: the City has road-work restrictions in effect from May 1 to July 31, 2026 for the FIFA World Cup 26 in Toronto, so some public-side work may be scheduled before or after that window — worth confirming with the City when you plan.

Pricing depends on length, depth, surfaces, and method (open-cut or trenchless). Toronto-area private-side lead service replacement typically runs $5,500 to $14,000 depending on the property. Coordinating with the city's public-side work is the most cost-effective approach because access and restoration are shared.

Toronto's Lead Service Replacement Program covers the City-side portion of the line at no cost when you replace the private side. The replacement removes the source of lead exposure that a filter only mitigates. Health Canada's MAC for lead is 0.005 mg/L — the only way to truly meet it long-term is to remove the lead pipe.