Frequently Asked Questions

The City developed an inventory of its service lines. Based on this inventory, the City was able to identify lines containing unknown material that could potentially be lead because the homes these lines service were constructed before the lead ban in 1988. Residents with lines of unknown material received letters and will be receiving them annually. If any lead or galvanized service lines are found in our system, the residents will be notified with annual letters as well.

If you want to replace the privately owned portion of the line, you will need to contact a plumber and cover the replacement costs. If the City side of the line also requires replacement, contact the City to coordinate replacement activities.

The City will replace all the publicly owned portions of service lines (water main to the meter) by 2037. While you are not required to replace your service line's private side (from the water meter up to your residence), it is highly recommended. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) emphasize that there is no safe level of lead exposure and advise against partial lead service line replacement. Lead pipes can corrode, releasing lead particles into the water supply. Galvanized pipes that are downstream of any lead pipe can absorb and release lead into the drinking water.

Please Share with Affected Residence

If you received a letter from the City, please share this information with anyone who drinks water served by this service line, especially those who may not have received this report directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this report in a public place or distributing copies by hand, mail, email, or another method.

•  "Unknown Letter" in English (PDF)
•  "Unknown Letter" in Spanish (PDF)
• "Unknown Letter" in Vietnamese (PDF)

The City developed an inventory of both the public and private portions of water service lines throughout the city and is informing customers if they are served by a lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown material. If you did not receive a letter that means your service line is assumed to be non-lead by all available records.

To check the material of your service line, please download this Excel file. The city is also developing an interactive service line material map, which will be available by November 2024.