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DWU Lead and Copper Program

Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) provides our customers with safe and reliable drinking water. DWU meets and exceeds all drinking water regulations and has been rated a Superior Water System, the highest rating offered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Over 47 years ago, Dallas began eliminating lead service lines and pipes that could leach lead into the water. Dallas' water treatment process also employs corrosion control strategies to prevent lead from leaching into the water.

What is lead?

Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the Earth's crust. While it has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans and animals, negatively affecting their health. Lead can come from many sources, such as air, water, soil, consumer products, food and occupational settings.

Lead can enter drinking water when pipes and plumbing fixtures that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content.

EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Revisions

Federal and state regulatory standards have helped reduce the amount of lead in our environment and minimize lead exposure. The federal Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) was revised by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2024 and requires public water systems nationwide to develop and maintain a public inventory of water service lines – the pipe that connects water mains to homes and businesses. The LCR regulation includes a 10-year timeline for the completion of the Service Line Inventory and the replacement of any lead and galvanized lines found as part of this effort.

DWU has been reviewing existing documentation, including plumbing codes, permits, historical capital improvement or master plans, distribution system maps and drawings, inspections and records of the distribution system and any other water system records that indicate the material composition of the service line connections. The inventory includes public and private service lines connected to the distribution system and categorizes the material of each service line.

As part of the LCR requirement, public water systems must notify customers if their service line material is unknown, lead or galvanized materials, due to potential lead exposure risk. Property owners are responsible for maintaining the private portion of the service line, including replacing all plumbing inside their premises and along their property coming from the meter.

What is a service line?

The service line connects the water main to a private property, such as a home or business. There are three basic parts to the service line: the public side - maintained by the utility; the meter - maintained by the utility; and the private side -responsibility of the property owner. Property owners are responsible for maintaining the private side of the service line, including replacing all plumbing inside their premises and along their property coming from the meter.

City of Dallas Service Line Inventory

View the latest Service Line Inventory findings for properties served by DWU. The inventory will be updated continuously.

Customer Service Line Survey

DWU is working to identify all service lines in our distribution system but needs customer assistance in identifying the material of the service line on their property. DWU has developed a quick and easy Customer Service Line Survey to guide customers through this process. The survey will ask customers to locate and identify the material of their water service line, provide details on how it connects to their home or building and complete a brief questionnaire. To get started, visit bit.ly/CustomerServiceLineSurvey or simply scan the QR code and follow the instructions.

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