Charleston Water System advances $36 million lead pipe project
Charleston Water System is advancing a $36 million project to permanently remove and replace approximately 941 known lead service lines across North Charleston and the Charleston Peninsula. The utility seeks funding through the South Carolina Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program as part of compliance efforts set for completion by 2037.
Targeting 941 Lead Pipes in Historic Corridors
The utility has spent the past month working on an initial project focusing on 1,100 service lines. Now, officials are preparing a second phase targeting densely concentrated historic areas. According to Charleston Water System communications officer Sarah Moody, the organization’s historic foresight acts as a baseline advantage.
A 1932 Ban Meets Stubborn Infrastructure Realities
Commissioners decided back in 1932 to halt the use of lead as a service line material. Despite that early prohibition, private side connections and older service lines remain embedded throughout the infrastructure. Records show that all 6,000 utility-owned lead service lines remaining in the system sit in the neck area of North Charleston and Peninsular Charleston, stretching in the corridor between Cosgrove Avenue and The Battery.
Work is heavily concentrated in neighborhoods such as Chicora. Moody notes that census tracts are chosen to serve majority disadvantaged households by prioritizing poverty levels, median household income, education statistics, and disability percentages.
Local Leadership and Federal Health Warnings
North Charleston Mayor Reggie Burgess voiced support for the infrastructure upgrades. Burgess stated that as mayor, he supports and applauds any effort that improves the quality of life for the citizens of North Charleston, emphasizing that local residents remain the top priority.
The Environmental Protection Agency notes that infants and children can suffer decreases in IQ and attention span alongside new or exacerbated learning and behavior problems. Adults face increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney or nervous system complications.
Protective Treatment Controls and Engineering
To mitigate risks ahead of complete removal, utility operators employ rigorous treatment controls. Moody explains that the system optimizes water pH to prevent lead from leaching and adds orthophosphate, a food-grade additive that forms a protective interior scale coating inside the pipes.
The proposed second project may also include replacing selected undersized water mains depending on final funding availability. Project evaluations are managed through the Preliminary Engineering Report and environmental review processes required for state revolving fund financing, with engineering support provided by AECOM Technical Services, Inc.
Public Meeting Scheduled for October 2026
A public meeting regarding the $36 million initiative is scheduled for October 21, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Large Conference Room on the first floor at 103 St. Philip St. in Charleston. Attendees will review project needs, alternative options, environmental and archaeological impacts, and financial implications before planners finalize design specifications.