Lead and Copper Rule Update

The City of Richmond has fulfilled the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR), which mandates that all public water systems develop and maintain an inventory of water service line materials.

As part of this effort, City personnel conducted field inspections to identify potential lead-containing service lines on both the public and private sides of the water system. The data collected during these inspections was used to compile an initial inventory, which was submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) by the October 16, 2024, deadline.

During the evaluation, water service lines constructed of galvanized material were flagged, as such materials may have absorbed lead over time. The City’s assessment identified 188 of the 8,978 water service connections across Richmond as having galvanized service lines with potential lead exposure. A map of the City showing the identified lines can be found here.

To ensure transparency and public awareness, letters titled "Notice of Confirmed Galvanized Service Line" were mailed to the 194 affected residences on or around November 13, 2024.

General Information about Lead in Drinking Water

How Lead Gets into Drinking Water

Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures. In homes with lead pipes that connect the home to the water main, also known as lead services lines, these pipes are typically the most significant source of lead in the water. Lead pipes are more likely to be found in older cities and homes built before 1986. Among homes without lead service lines, the most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and plumbing with lead solder.

Lead and Copper Rule

In 1991, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a regulation to control lead and copper in drinking water. This regulation is known as the Lead and Copper Rule (also referred to as the LCR). The treatment technique for the rule requires systems to monitor drinking water at customer taps. The Rule created:

1. Lead concentrations exceed an action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb).
2. Copper concentrations exceed an action level of 1.3 parts per million (ppm).
3. If more than 10% of customer taps sampled exceeded, the system must undertake a number of additional actions to control corrosion. If the action level for lead is exceeded, the system must also inform the public about steps they should take to protect their health and may have to replace lead service lines under their control.

While sampling to date show current levels have been below the required threshold, the city still has proactively implemented corrosion control.

Revised Lead and Copper Rule

In 2021, the EPA revised the Lead and Copper Rule, the Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR), improves protections for children and communities from the risks of lead exposure by better protecting children at schools and childcare facilities, identifying lead service lines, and empowering communities through information.

Protecting Children at Schools - There is no safe level of lead exposure. In drinking water, the primary source of lead is from pipes, which can present a risk to your health. Better protecting children at elementary schools and childcare facilities. Children spend a large amount of time in elementary schools and childcare facilities and lead in the internal plumbing of these facilities can pose a risk to children’s health. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) offers a FREE statewide program to help schools and childcare centers test for lead within their facilities. See link or more information.

Voluntary Lead Testing in School and Child Care Drinking Water - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - www.tceq.texas.gov

Identifying Lead Service Lines – under the revised rule, the City water department was required to submit an inventory checking for lead service lines within the city and areas we service. Utilizing historical records and utility personnel verifying each address, staff was able to comprise an

inventory list and submitted it to the state in October of 2024. Structures built after 1989 are considered lead free. The City could not confirm the type of material used for the customer owned service line at 194 addresses and those may need to be replaced. Those addresses that may need replacement were sent letters in November 2024. To see if you need to have you line replaced, see map link below. Those with the entire service lines classified as Lead, Galvanized Needing Replacement or Unknown will need to be replaced.

A map of the City showing the identified lines can be found here.

Additional Resources

 Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water | US EPA

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