What a service line is
The service line is the pipe that carries water from the water main under the street into your house. Ownership is usually split: the utility owns the part from the main to the curb stop, and the property owner owns the part from the curb stop to the house. In older North Jersey cities, many of those customer-owned sections were made of lead or galvanized steel.
What PVWC did
The Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) supplies water to Clifton and serves more than 800,000 people across Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris and Passaic counties. In late 2022 it began a program to remove customer-owned lead service lines in its owner cities of Clifton, Passaic and Paterson, plus Prospect Park, with an initial estimate of about 6,500 lines. The work was funded through state and federal programs and was free to property owners.
According to an update presented to the Clifton City Council in June 2026, the customer-side lead service line replacement work was completed in October 2025, with roughly 4,722 lines replaced, about a third of them in Clifton. PVWC has stated it will still inspect properties on request. You can check your address with PVWC's service line lookup tool or call PVWC customer service.
What the program didn't cover
- Interior supply piping. Many Clifton homes built before about 1950 still have galvanized steel pipe inside. Galvanized pipe can collect lead from older upstream lead lines over the years, and it corrodes and narrows on the inside.
- Lead solder. Copper pipes installed before lead-free solder rules took effect in the late 1980s may have lead-based solder at the joints.
- Old fixtures and valves. Older brass faucets and valves can contain more lead than modern lead-free fixtures.
How to check the pipes in your home
- Look at the pipe entering at the meter. New copper or plastic after the meter suggests a recent replacement.
- Scratch test. Gently scratch an exposed pipe with a key. Lead is soft, dull gray and turns shiny silver when scratched; a magnet won't stick. Galvanized steel is hard and gray, and a magnet sticks. Copper is penny-colored.
- Check the joints. Gray, threaded fittings mean galvanized. Soldered joints mean copper.
- Watch pressure and color. Whole-house low pressure and rust-colored water after the water sits are classic signs of galvanized pipe.
- Test the water. A certified lab can test for lead. Contact PVWC about testing options.
| Pipe | Color | Magnet | Joints | Typical era |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | Dull gray, shiny when scratched | No | Bulb-shaped wiped joints | Early 1900s service lines |
| Galvanized steel | Gray, hard | Yes | Threaded | Roughly 1900s–1960s |
| Copper | Penny brown | No | Soldered | 1950s–today |
| PEX/plastic | White, red, blue | No | Crimp or expansion rings | 1990s–today |
If you have galvanized pipe inside
Galvanized pipe isn't an emergency by itself, but it's at the end of its life in most Clifton homes. Problems you can expect: falling water pressure, rusty water, pinhole leaks and failures at threaded joints. The long-term fix is replacing it with copper or PEX, either the whole house at once or in stages starting with the main line from the meter.
Reduce exposure in the meantime
- Run cold water for a minute or two after it sits overnight before drinking or cooking.
- Use only cold water for cooking and drinking; hot water draws more metal from pipes.
- Clean faucet aerators regularly.
- Consider a filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead.
For low pressure, leaks and repiping in Clifton, see our leak repair and repiping service.
Frequently asked questions
Did PVWC replace lead service lines in Clifton?
Yes. The Passaic Valley Water Commission ran a no-cost program to replace customer-owned lead service lines in Clifton, Passaic, Paterson and Prospect Park, which it reported completing in October 2025.
Does the PVWC program replace the pipes inside my house?
No. It replaced the service line from the street into the building. Interior pipes, solder and fixtures were not part of the program.
How can I tell if I have galvanized pipes?
Galvanized pipe is hard, gray steel with threaded fittings, and a magnet will stick to it. Lead is soft and won't attract a magnet; copper is penny-colored.
Why is my water pressure low after my service line was replaced?
The new service line delivers full flow to the meter, but galvanized pipe inside the house may be narrowed by internal rust. A pressure test and a look at the interior piping usually confirm it.
Is galvanized pipe dangerous?
Galvanized pipe that was downstream of a lead service line can hold lead in its corrosion. It also leaks and restricts flow as it ages. Replacing it is the long-term fix, and testing your water gives you a baseline.
How do I test my water for lead in Clifton?
Use a state-certified laboratory, and contact the Passaic Valley Water Commission about any testing it offers. Follow the lab's sampling instructions, typically a first-draw sample after water sits overnight.
What does repiping a house involve?
Repiping replaces old supply lines with copper or PEX, usually through existing walls and floors with small access openings. It can be done all at once or in stages, starting with the main line after the meter.
Keep reading
- Previous guide: Why Clifton Basements Back Up in Heavy Rain (and How to Stop It)
- Next guide: Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Water Heater in Clifton, NJ?
- Need it fixed? See our burst pipe & leak repair service in Clifton.