Louisiana voters have removed a legal roadblock that kept cities from replacing lead water pipes on private land. In the November 3 election, they approved Amendment 7 to the state constitution with about 64 percent of the vote, according to unofficial returns reported by FOX 8 in New Orleans.

The amendment lets cities, parishes and utilities use public money to find, inventory, remove or replace drinking water service lines made of or affected by lead and similar materials on property owned by their customers. Those lines are the small pipes that carry water from the main under the street into each home.

Until now, the Louisiana constitution barred public funds from being "loaned, pledged, or donated" to private people or companies, Ballotpedia explains. That left utilities unsure whether they could pay to dig up the part of a lead line that sits on a homeowner's side of the property line.

What changes in New Orleans

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans says it aims to replace lead service lines at no cost to homeowners, WGNO reported on November 4. The amendment will help the utility secure $152 million in federal funding, and it has already secured $86 million in state and federal funds to inspect and replace lead lines.

State Sen. Royce Duplessis, who pushed the legislation, told WGNO:

"The passage of this amendment gives us the absolute certainty that we have the legal authority to replace lead pipes for residents who need this replacement on their private property."

Crews have begun canvassing neighborhoods. Residents need to sign a form allowing workers onto their property before a line can be replaced. Executive Director Randy Hayman said being able to work on the private side "will alleviate some of the financial expense that the homeowner has to bear" and make replacement easier.

Why lead lines matter

There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Children are most at risk, and lead can harm learning and attention. In a free testing program, about 70 percent of more than 1,100 New Orleans households tested between September 2022 and May 2025 had lead in their water, Axios reported earlier this year, citing Verite News. Dr. Adrienne Katner of the LSU Health School of Public Health told WGNO that babies fed formula made with tap water are a particular concern.

What still needs to be done

The work ahead is large. The city has tens of thousands of lead pipes in one of the oldest water systems on the Gulf Coast, and WGNO notes that replacing them will cost more than $1 billion, far more than the money lined up so far. The results are also unofficial until the Louisiana Secretary of State certifies them. Utilities elsewhere in the state can now use the same authority.

Why it matters

Lead pipes are hidden, but the harm they can do is lasting. By letting public programs replace the whole line, not just the half under the street, Louisiana voters have made it possible for families to get the full fix without paying for it themselves.

Learn more

• FOX 8: Louisiana voters pass 7 of 10 constitutional amendments on ballot
• WGNO: Amendment Seven approval clears the way for lead pipe removal funding in New Orleans
• Ballotpedia: Background on the amendment
• Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans: Lead Awareness

Sources: FOX 8 (WVUE), "Louisiana voters pass 7 of 10 constitutional amendments on ballot," 3 November 2026; WGNO, "Amendment Seven approval clears the way for lead pipe removal funding in New Orleans," 4 November 2026; Lincoln Parish Journal, "Louisiana voters approve 7 of 10 constitutional amendments," 5 November 2026; Ballotpedia News, 3 June 2026; Axios New Orleans, "70% of homes tested in New Orleans water program had lead," 16 March 2026.

How you can help

These organizations work to get lead out of drinking water in Louisiana and across the United States.

• Louisiana Environmental Action Network helps Louisiana communities understand and protect their drinking water and environmental health.
• Environmental Defense Fund works with utilities and communities to speed up full replacement of lead service lines.
• NRDC maps where lead pipes remain and presses for safe drinking water standards nationwide.