By Mike Pesce & Ron Lanzillotta, The Pesce & Lanzillotta Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Laffey International Realty

Garden City's tree-lined streets and classic early-20th-century homes are a big part of why buyers fall for the village. Older homes can also come with older plumbing, and in Garden City, that includes a lot of lead water service lines. Now there's real help on the way. The Village of Garden City has been awarded an $8.2 million state grant to help replace them.

If you own a home in Garden City, are getting ready to sell, or are shopping for one, here's what happened, what's still unknown, and how to check any address in a few minutes.

What Happened

Mayor Ed Finneran announced the award at the Village Board of Trustees meeting on October 22, Garden City News reported on October 29. The money comes from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation through the state's Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) grant program. The program requires the village to contribute 30 percent of the project's cost.

The mayor called it "terrific news" and said there are "hoops to jump through with the application process over the next two to three months," adding that the money "would likely hit our pockets in 2027." He also said the village is pursuing federal grants.

Trustee Rich Catalano said Garden City "has many lead service lines – especially if you live in the Mott section," though they are found throughout the village. He estimated that replacing a lead service line at an average Garden City home could cost between $6,000 and $10,000, depending largely on how far the house sits from the village water main.

Why This Matters for Garden City Homeowners

A service line is the pipe that carries water from the main under the street into your house. In Garden City, the village owns the mains, but homeowners are responsible for their service lines. The village's own replacement page says each homeowner is responsible for removing and replacing a lead line with a licensed plumber, at an estimated $5,000 to $10,000 from house to main. That's why this grant is significant: it could help ease that cost, with the homeowner program details still to come.

The scale is real. According to the village's inventory summary filed with the New York State Department of Health, Garden City has 6,956 service lines. Of those, 1,190 are listed as lead, 60 as galvanized lines requiring replacement, 2,172 as non-lead, and 3,534 as still unknown. That's progress from October 2024, when Garden City News reported 1,237 lead lines and 3,824 unknowns, but it means roughly half of the village's lines still haven't been confirmed either way. There's also a federal clock. Under the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, water systems generally have 10 years, starting in November 2027, to replace lead service lines. The rule is being challenged in federal court, but the mayor noted that the village and all water providers are working on that 10-year timeline.

What we don't know yet is how the grant will reach individual homeowners, whether through direct replacement work, reimbursement or another program. The village hasn't announced those details, so watch for updates from Village Hall over the coming months.

How to Check a Garden City Home in Minutes

The village makes this easy, and it's worth doing whether you own, are selling or are buying:

  • Look up the address. The Village of Garden City Water Department has a public online service line inventory map. Enter an address to see the material listed for both the curb-to-main portion and the home-to-curb portion of the line.
  • If it says "unknown," help identify it. The village explains how homeowners can identify their line and report it. Water Superintendent Stanley Carey has suggested a simple test: a strong magnet won't stick to lead, it will cling to galvanized pipe, and copper looks like a penny. A magnet result alone does not establish the material of the entire service line; ask the Water Department or a licensed plumber to confirm uncertain findings.
  • Get free testing. The village offers free lead testing kits to homes it serves, limited to one free test per property.
  • Save on permits. Road-opening permit fees are waived for lead service line replacement projects, and the village says a typical replacement takes one to two days, with water off for only a few hours.

What It Means for Sellers

If your home has a lead or unknown service line, it's smart to know that before you list. Buyers and their inspectors are increasingly aware of the village inventory, and a clear answer, whether that's a confirmed copper line, a completed replacement or a contractor's estimate, takes a question mark off the table. If you've already replaced your line, keep the paperwork and make sure the village inventory reflects it.

Before deciding when to replace a line, ask the Village Water Department and a licensed plumber about your property, current precautions and grant eligibility. Do not assume work you arrange now will be reimbursed, or postpone recommended action solely because grant details are pending. We can help you consider the real estate timing while the village and qualified professionals guide the water-service work.

What It Means for Buyers

A lead service line shouldn't scare you away from the right Garden City home, but it should be part of your due diligence:

  • Check the inventory map before you make an offer. It's free and takes a minute.
  • Ask your inspector to look at where the line enters the house.
  • Factor a possible replacement into your budget and negotiation. Your attorney can advise on how to handle it in the contract.
  • Follow the grant. A village program could reduce your cost down the road.

"Garden City's older homes are a big part of what makes the village so special, and knowing what's under the front lawn is just part of owning one. Whether you're buying, selling or simply want to understand where your home stands, Mike and I are always glad to help you sort it out and point you to the right resources."

— Ron Lanzillotta, The Pesce & Lanzillotta Group

Buying or Selling in Garden City?

We help Garden City buyers and sellers stay ahead of the details that shape a sale, from village programs to recent comparable sales on your street. Reach Mike Pesce or Ron Lanzillotta at 516.888.9711 or info@pl-team.com.

Mike Pesce & Ron Lanzillotta, The Pesce & Lanzillotta Group | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Laffey International Realty | 8223 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury | 516.888.9711 | info@pl-team.com

Explore our Garden City homes and neighborhood guide, read about Garden City’s $15 million school bond and village e-bike hearing, or start a home valuation with your address.

Sources and homeowner resources

Photo credits

Homes along Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York. Photo: AITFFan1 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Extracted from the supplied article; may be cropped for display.