Press Releases
DAVENPORT, IA. (SEPTEMBER 25, 2025) – Iowa American Water announced today that it will replace approximately 800 lead service lines across its service areas by the end of 2025. This effort will bring the total number of identified lead or galvanized steel service lines replaced to approximately 2,100 since the program’s inception.
“At Iowa American Water, delivering safe, clean, reliable and affordable water remains our top priority,” said Tony Loete, vice president of Operations for Iowa American Water. “While water quality meets all regulatory standards, we are committed to continue our program to identify and replace all lead service lines, and we need our customers’ cooperation to help us identify and remove lead service lines for their health, safety and peace of mind.”
Contractors working for Iowa American Water will continue canvassing throughout the company’s nine service communities to identify unknown service line materials. Contract employees will wear high-visibility vests and contractor ID badges. If lead or galvanized steel lines are found, Iowa American Water will replace the service line at no direct cost to the customer.
Replacement of lead service lines will provide water quality improvements to customers and is consistent with federal and state regulatory requirements and Iowa American Water’s proactive initiatives to eliminate lead service lines from the public water supply system.
Customers can find more information on the company’s lead service line replacement program, answers to frequently asked questions and a guide to help self-identify the material of their service line at iowaamwater.com/leadfacts.
Any customer can self-report their service line material online. To complete the service line inventory report from a phone or tablet, customers will need to:
- Enter their contact information
- Identify their service line material and
- Upload a picture of their service line.
“The considerable progress we’ve made in just four years demonstrates our unwavering commitment to modernizing water infrastructure and protecting public health,” Loete added. “We intend to meet these regulatory requirements and set the standard for proactive lead mitigation in Iowa. Our water remains safe due to our proactive treatment measures and ongoing testing; our work is far from over.
Customers should be aware that they may own all or part of their water service line, which carries water from the water main in the street into a home or business. While Iowa American Water might only own part of the service line – or none of it at all – all utilities are responsible under USEPA regulations for identifying and ultimately replacing lines that are made of lead.
At the same time, customers with lead lines can use water as they normally do, as Iowa American Water treats its drinking water with a corrosion inhibitor to reduce the potential for lead to leach from pipes or plumbing fixtures into the water. The company regularly tests for lead in drinking water, and the water delivered to customers meets state and federal water quality regulations, including those set for lead. Testing has confirmed, year-after-year, that Iowa American Water’s treatment is working as intended to protect public health.
Customers can learn more about their water quality at https://www.amwater.com/iaaw/Water-Quality/Water-Quality-Reports/ and find additional information on Lead and Drinking Water by visiting its website at https://www.amwater.com/iaaw/Water-Quality/Lead-and-Drinking-Water/.
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.
About Iowa American Water
Iowa American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water services to approximately 227,000 people.