Lead Water Service Information

Lead Service Line Inventory 

 South St. Paul completed and submitted its service line materials inventory to the Minnesota Department of Health in the fall of 2025. This inventory is publicly accessible through the  Lead Inventory Tracking Tool (LITT) . You may also contact the City at 651-554-3219 for assistance.

To complete the inventory, City staff reviewed property files, construction and maintenance records, the 2013 meter report, and surveys submitted by property owners. As of October 17, 2025, the City’s inventory includes:

  • 743 lead service lines
  • 175 galvanized lines requiring replacement
  • 87 lines of unknown material
  • 6,039 non-lead service lines

Lead Service Line Replacement Program

South St. Paul is planning a city-wide lead service line replacement project. Due to new state and federal funding opportunities, the replacement of privately owned lead service lines may be completed at no cost to the property owner. All project funding will pass through the City and must comply with specific construction and eligibility criteria.

The City hired Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH®) to assist with service line inspections and preparation of engineering drawings for the replacement project. On-site inspections performed by SEH Inspector are taking place now and replacements are expected to start in May 2026. You can schedule an inspection at https://tinyurl.com/ymcc55fw if you would like to block off a specific time or day for an inspection. 

To be included with the 2026 lead service line replacements, you must schedule a design survey prior to January 30, 2026. Any properties that complete the survey after January 30, 2026, may not have the service replaced until 2027. All properties participating in the project must sign the project agreement form. For reference, you can review a sample participation agreement.

For questions related to the  replacement project and inspection program, please contact Kirsten Rueb (SEH) at 507-288-6464.

For general questions about the replacement project and water in South St. Paul, please contact Kelsey Gelhar, City Engineer, at 651-554-3219.

At this time, neither the Minnesota Department of Health nor the EPA requires private property owners to remove lead service lines. In South St. Paul, property owners are responsible for the entire service line from the building to the main.

Assessment Policy for Voluntary Replacement

Property owners who choose NOT to take part in the city-wide project and who hire their own contractor to replace a lead service line may request financial assistance under the City's assessment policy. The City Engineer may enter into an agreement with the owner for up to $5,000 in eligible costs, subject to repayment terms:

  • Up to $2,500: payable over 3 years
  • $2,501–$5,000: payable over 5 years

These assessments carry an interest rate of 1% plus the current bond rate.

According to Sec. 50-21 of the City Code, property owners who meet specific age or hardship criteria may apply for deferred assessment. If approved by the City Council, repayment may be postponed under the same maximum loan amount and interest conditions.

If requests for lead service line replacements exceed the City’s budgeted funding, no additional replacements will be authorized without City Council approval.

About Lead in Water

Lead typically enters drinking water through corrosion of plumbing materials and fixtures. South St. Paul conducts regular testing at multiple locations, including schools, to monitor for lead. Results have consistently remained below the safety thresholds established by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For more information on lead in drinking water, visit the  Minnesota Department of Health Lead in Drinking Water page .