The City of Houston Announces Plan to Identify Possible Lead Pipes Across City

October 15, 2024

Houston Water customers to receive notices to
help identify service line materials

HOUSTON - The City of Houston is taking action to identify and replace lead pipes across the city as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). The LCRR requires water utilities to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years, to ensure communities have access to clean drinking water.

Houston Public Works is working to identify the type of materials used in both the city’s water service lines and each customer’s private water service lines. A private service line connects a customer’s water pipes to the city’s water main. If the material of a service line is unknown, there is a possibility that it may be made of lead or galvanized pipe. People living or working in properties with lead or galvanized pipes previously connected to lead are at an increased risk of exposure to lead from their drinking water.

Currently, Houston Public Works has not found any lead pipes in their service lines.

As part of its ongoing program to identify and replace lead pipes, Houston Public Works is sending notices to 429,662 customers in their water bills to inform them that their water service line is made of unknown materials. Because the city does not have information about these private service lines, there is a possibility that they may be made of lead or galvanized pipe that was at one point connected to lead. Anyone with a service line of unknown material will receive this notification letter by mail no later than November 15, 2024.

Houston Public Works has created a water service line inventory map that allows the public to search their addresses and view current records of the material used in their water service line.

Customers can search for their address using the search bar at the top-right corner of the map. For mobile users, it is recommended to view the map in full-screen mode.

Although it is not mandatory, customers with unknown water service line materials are highly encouraged to follow the step-by-step instructions on the website and self-report with photographs to help Houston Public Works identify their water service line materials. If their water service line remains unknown, the city may follow up as part of their test hole program or other water service line material investigation.

Houston Public Works has compiled information and guidelines from the EPA, TCEQ and CDC on how to reduce the risk of lead in your drinking water. Please visit https://bit.ly/HouLeadResources for more information.