New London residents face mandatory lead water pipe replacements

An EPA mandate requires replacement of all lead pipes within 10 years; New London Utilities has notified customers and says about 318 households still need replacements.

New London Utilities has sent notices telling residents with lead service lines they must have those lines replaced under an Environmental Protection Agency mandate. Officials say the replacements are part of a federal timeline to remove all lead pipes within 10 years. Some residents who completed replacement reported paying roughly $3,000 to $5,000 and expressed frustration over notices and costs. Key details: - The EPA mandate calls for all lead pipes to be replaced within the next 10 years. - New London Utilities reported about 4 customers replaced lines in 2024, 56 in 2025, and about 318 customers still need replacements. - Under Wisconsin DNR guidance, homeowners are responsible for the portion of the service line from their home to the curb stop valve; the municipality covers the remainder. - New London Utilities said covering customer replacement costs would likely require raising utility rates and that applying for grants also carries costs. Summary: Some residents face multi-thousand-dollar bills and have reported frustration with notices and costs. Officials say about 318 customers still need replacements and the utility plans roughly 50 customer replacements per year until the total reaches zero. Undetermined at this time.