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Fairfax Water expects to remove the last known lead service lines from its network by the end of the year, well ahead of a federal deadline in November 2027.

General Manager Jamie Bain Hedges announced the timeline during a June meeting between the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the water authority’s board.

Of the system’s more than 290,000 service lines, 15 known lead lines remain. All are concentrated in the Belle Haven community and are scheduled for removal during water-main replacement projects in the coming months.

Officials are also working to confirm the materials used in 16 other lines. Any found to contain lead will be replaced as well.

The work follows federal regulations updated in 2023. Water systems nationwide had to inventory service lines containing lead or unknown materials by October 2024 and then prepare replacement plans. The requirements also covered customer-owned pipes containing lead or galvanized iron, along with lines made from unidentified materials.

Lead exposure through drinking water can cause serious health problems in people of all ages, with pregnant people, infants and young children facing heightened risks.

Fairfax Water launched its Lead Free Fairfax program in 2024 to identify pipe materials throughout a system serving about 2.2 million Northern Virginia residents. That effort initially identified three lead lines and 115 lines made from unknown materials.

Board Chair Philip Allin, the Sully District representative who has served on the authority’s board since 1992, said ensuring the safety of the drinking water supply is a responsibility the agency takes seriously.

Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck, whose district includes Belle Haven, said eliminating the remaining lead pipes will make a major difference. He also noted that the hazards associated with lead plumbing have been understood for centuries.

The joint meeting was among Hedges’ final appearances as general manager. She has led Fairfax Water since 2021, worked for the authority for 36 years and plans to retire in the coming months.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay called her departure a significant loss but expressed confidence in the agency’s future leadership, saying it has the people and infrastructure needed to succeed.