In December 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced steps to strengthen the regulations on lead in drinking water. The new regulations are known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR). There are many changes, including identifying and removing lead service lines, changes to reporting sample results, and ensuring customers are notified of the health effects of lead. Public water systems such as ours have been taking steps to protect consumers since the 1990s. The City of College Station understands that our customers may have questions about the safety of their drinking water. We have developed this page to answer some frequently asked questions and give you the latest information on College Station’s efforts to comply with updated regulations.
The LCRR requires every water utility to develop and maintain a water service line inventory of every service line in the water distribution system, including both the utility owned (public) and customer owned (private) service lines. The city-owned portion of the service line runs from the water main to the meter, and the customer-owned portion runs from the meter to the entrance to the home. (see graphic) Utilities also must then submit this Water Service Line Inventory to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and make it publicly available by October 16, 2024. The detail sheet from the City submittal on October 15th can be accessed here as a pdf. For the most user friendly and up to date information click here for the inventory in map form. This inventory will be updated as we continue to investigate and classify our service line material.. If, during the inventory of service lines, the utility determines that a customer is served by a lead or galvanized service line, either on the customer side or city side, the utility will notify these customers of the type of service line material as well as steps to take to reduce their exposure to lead. Utilities with known lead service lines will also be required to develop a lead service line replacement plan according to the new rules. To identify the material of your own service line you may conduct a scratch and magnet test at your water meter, which is generally located at or near the property line. Using a tool such as a flathead screwdriver, scratch the service line to expose the material. A copper service line will look much like a penny. A lead pipe will be dull or gray in color, but shiny after being scratched. A magnet will stick to a galvanized service line, but will not stick to a copper or lead service line.
Image above: The image shows that the water utility owns the portion of the service line from the water main to the meter and the meter. The property owner owns the service line portion from the meter to the home or building.
College Station takes pride in providing high-quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components found in homes and other buildings. Lead can dissolve into water from service line pipes, private plumbing pipes, solder, fixtures, faucets (brass) and fittings. When lead is present in plumbing components, there are simple things you can do to reduce your exposure.
Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components in service lines and home plumbing. Exposure to lead can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.
What do the icons on the inventory map mean?
A close inspection of the legend for our map shows circles in one or two colors. The dividing line separates the public material (owned by the utility) and the private material (customer responsibility). Customers with confirmed lead, galvanized, or unknown service lines material on either side of the water meter will receive notification from College Station regarding their service line status. All properties with structures built after 1988 do not provide a status icon since they are all presumed to have non-lead service lines on both the public and private side.
Is my home at risk for lead plumbing?