About Rollford Research
Rollford Research is an independent research company that tracks the lead service line replacement programs every U.S. community water system is required to carry out. We turn scattered public records into one clear, sourced ledger per state for the firms that design, build and supply the work.
What we do
Federal and state rules require water systems to find and replace every lead and galvanized service line. What each system has to replace, what it has filed, who is advising it, how it is paying and who has won the work so far is spread across thousands of separate documents from utilities, state agencies and local governments.
We bring it together, system by system. Each state ledger is a spreadsheet with one row per water system and a short brief, licensed to the whole company that buys it and kept current through the year for subscribers.
Why it matters
The largest change to the nation's water service lines in decades, carried out by thousands of separate utilities.
- 3.1 million
- lead and galvanized lines reported to EPA by water systems in 2026
- $20B+
- of replacement work at EPA's estimated $6,500 to $8,500 a line
- 2027
- replacement plans due from every community water system on November 1
- 2037
- when lead and galvanized lines must generally be gone
Who we work for
The firms that pursue, design, build and supply lead line work.
Utility contractors
Which systems are funded, when work is likely to start, who engineered it and who won the last contract.
Engineering firms
Which systems have plan, design and inspection work ahead, and which have no engineer of record yet.
Waterworks suppliers
Where replacement volume will land, county by county, and which contractors are winning it.
Where we work
Every state and the District of Columbia: about 17,700 community water systems that report lead, galvanized or unknown service lines. Illinois, with more known lead lines than any other state, has our most detailed ledger.
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Our standards
- Public records only
- Everything in a ledger comes from documents that water systems, state agencies and local governments publish. Nothing comes from private or paid data sources.
- Sourced and dated
- Every value carries its source and the date it was last checked, so anyone on your team can verify it.
- Independent
- We are not affiliated with U.S. EPA, any state agency or any water system, and no firm pays to appear in a ledger or to be left out of one.
- Business information only
- We track public programs and the firms working on them. We do not compile consumer or household data.
Common questions
What is a lead service line?
A service line is the pipe that carries water from the water main to a building. Lines made of lead, and galvanized steel lines that are or were downstream of lead, can release lead into drinking water, which is why federal rules now require water systems to replace them.
What does the federal rule require?
Under U.S. EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, community water systems must keep an inventory of their service lines, publish a replacement plan by November 1, 2027, and then replace lead and galvanized lines, generally within ten years. Some states set earlier deadlines of their own. The rule is being challenged in federal court.
What is in a Rollford Research ledger?
One row for every water system in the state with lead, galvanized or unknown lines: counts by material, replacement plan status, the consultant of record, state funding and past lead line contracts. It adds a bid calendar of funded projects, county totals and a source and checked date for every value.
Who uses the ledgers?
Utility and underground contractors, engineering firms, waterworks distributors and manufacturers' representatives, and plumbing contractors who work on lead line programs: estimators, business development teams, water practice leads and branch managers.
Which states do you cover?
All 50 states and the District of Columbia, about 17,700 community water systems that report lines to address. Each state has its own page with its line counts and largest programs. Illinois, which has more known lead lines than any other state, has our most detailed ledger.
How current is the information?
Every value shows the date it was last checked. Subscribers get their state ledger refreshed every quarter, with an email when a system wins funding, posts a plan or opens a bid.
Is Rollford Research part of EPA or a state agency?
No. Rollford Research is an independent company, a product of Euvoca LLC in Austin, Texas. It is not affiliated with U.S. EPA, any state agency or any water system.
Talk to us
Questions about a state, your territory or a company license? We reply within one business day. Rollford Research is a product of Euvoca LLC, Austin, Texas.