Long Island Villages Receive $19.2 Million for Lead Pipes

Garden City and Mineola will use state grants to identify and replace lead service lines as federal deadlines approach.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Utilities

Long Island Villages Receive $19.2 Million for Lead Pipes

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Do you trust your local government to handle replacing old lead water pipes?

New York Governor Kathy Hochul's office announced $19.2 million in grants to Garden City and Mineola for lead pipe replacement. The awards are part of 12 grants totaling $56.7 million given to Long Island water providers.

Why it matters

Federal rules require water systems nationwide to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years, and the grants reduce costs that would otherwise be passed on to users through borrowing. For New York residents served by these providers, the funding moves lead line work forward on a timeline set by the federal government.

Garden City received $8.2 million to replace lead service lines, while Mineola received $1.8 million to identify pipes and $9.2 million for replacement. Replacing a single lead line costs about $10,000 to $15,000, and the total remaining lines in each village are not yet fully reported.

The players

Kathy Hochul

Kathy Hochul is the Governor of New York, whose office announced the grants.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is the federal agency that finalized the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements in 2024.

The details

Water providers are identifying lead service lines on both the residential and provider sides, and Mineola has contacted every homeowner and inspected almost every property. Garden City and Mineola are also using ongoing roadwork to inspect water lines, while Garden City is encouraging residents to have their water tested for free.

2024: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements.
2025: The state Health Department compiled lead service line data for the villages.
Nov. 1, 2027: Water providers must submit a final lead service line inventory to the state.
Nov. 1, 2037: All lead service lines must be replaced.

Market Landscape

The grants extend the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, which set a 10-year nationwide timeline for removing lead service lines. Long Island water providers are now working to meet the 2027 inventory and 2037 replacement deadlines the rule established.

Residents whose property contains a lead service line are responsible for the cost of replacing the portion on their property, which can run about $10,000 to $15,000. Testing your water is available for free in Garden City, and the grants are intended to keep village-level costs from being passed on to users.

The takeaway

Homeowners should check whether their property has a lead service line and ask their water provider about testing and replacement options. Keeping track of the 2027 and 2037 federal deadlines can help you understand when work on your street may begin.

What happens next

Water providers must submit a final lead service line inventory to the state by Nov. 1, 2027, and complete replacement of all lead service lines by Nov. 1, 2037.