Lead & Water Information

Corrosion Control

Corrosive water can carry plumbing materials through the water system. By using chemicals to control the corrosivity of the water, lead exposure can be reduced.

The City of Waco has a corrosion control plan, as part of the Lead and Copper Rule. Raising the pH of the water creates scale in the pipes. The scale reduces the amount of plumbing material that might dissolve in the water.

Service Line Inventory

As part of the current Lead and Copper Rule, the City of Waco has taken inventory of over 50,000 service lines and created a database for the public. 

The City of Waco does not have information about the type of materials used in private plumbing inside homes and businesses. Customers who want to investigate their own plumbing can hire a licensed plumber to perform an inspection.

The diagram shows the City of Waco-owned service line starts at the water main and continues to the property line. The customer-owned service line starts at the property line and continues throughout the property.

How to identify your service line type

Use a flathead screwdriver to scrape a small area on the pipe.

• If the scraped area is the color of a penny, your service line is copper.
• If the scraped area remains a dull gray, your service line is galvanized steel.
• If the scraped area is shiny and silver, your service line is lead.

You can also check if your service line is magnetic. A magnet will not stick to copper or lead, only galvanized steel.

Customers can self-report their service line materials via the MyWaco app.

Service Line Replacement

The City of Waco has been replacing lead service lines that are discovered through normal maintenance and repairs. The City has no known lead service lines.

Replacement of customer service lines is the responsibility of the customer. 

Income-based assistance is available through the Lead is Preventable Program (LIPP), a City of Waco Housing & Community Development program.

Customer Notification

If a lead service line is found, on either the city or customer side, property owners and tenants will be notified by letter within 30 days. The City will also provide the customer with a filtered pitcher and resources for the property owner to replace the lead service line.

Removing lead service lines can create a short-term increased lead risk. Customers whose lines are being replaced will also be provided a water filter pitcher and instructions to further decrease the potential lead exposure.

Customers who are considered at-risk for lead in their drinking water will have opportunities to get their water tested for free.

Day Cares & Schools

Testing for lead in water is required at all registered day cares and schools up to eighth grade. This testing will involve training the staff at the schools and day care facilities to take samples from inside the buildings, which will then be tested and reported as required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Rules and guidelines continue to change and the City will continue to comply with the requirements as new information comes in.

Determine if you have lead service line or interior lead plumbing or solder. Property owners should check their portion of the service lines for lead. Click here to submit your service line type. If your home or building was constructed before 1988 it is also important to determine if interior pipes contain lead. You can check yourself, hire a licensed plumber, or check with your landlord.

Run the cold water to flush out lead. If a faucet hasn't been used in more than six hours, let water run from the cold tap for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking or cooking with it. The longer water sits still in plumbing the more lead it may contain. Flushing tap water is a simple and inexpensive measure you can take to protect your health.

Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Lead can dissolve into hot water more easily. Avoid drinking, cooking, or preparing beverages like baby formula with hot tap water. If you know or suspect you have a lead service line you should use filtered water for drinking and preparing baby formula. If you need hot water, draw water from the cold tap and then heat it. However, it is still safe to wash dishes and do laundry with hot tap water. Lead will not soak into dishware or most clothes.

Use alternative sources or treatment of water. If there are confirmed or suspected lead-containing materials in your home or building, you may consider using bottled water or a water filter. Be sure to maintain and replace filter devices as needed.

Remove and clean aerators/screens on plumbing fixtures. Over time, particles and sediment can collect in the aerator screen. Regularly remove and clean aerator screens located on faucets and remove any particles.

Get your child tested. Contact Waco-McLennan Public Health or your healthcare provider to find out how to get your child tested for lead. A doctor can perform a blood test and provide you with information about the health effects of lead.

Our public water supply system is required to collect tap water samples to determine lead and copper levels in our system. Lead and copper testing is different than our many other routine water testing procedures. During a scheduled monitoring event, City staff assist customer volunteers with sample collections. The samples are then submitted by City staff to a State certified laboratory for analysis.

Currently, sampling is conducted at 50 customer locations every three years. The City of Waco was awarded a reduced sampling schedule because we have repeatedly demonstrated that the water system meets the federal government's requirements. The last monitoring event was completed in 2021.

Lead in water is measured in parts per billion. If a sample from a testing site is found to have more than 10 parts per billion, additional actions must be are taken to investigate and resolve the issue. After confirming that the sample collection protocols were followed, the tap and service line are evaluated. Providing educational materials, taking additional samples and service line replacement are all possible next steps.

What is lead?

Lead is a naturally occurring metal. It can be harmful if inhaled or swallowed.

How could I be exposed to lead?

The most common source of lead exposure is from paint. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978.

Lead can also be found in some household plumbing materials and some water service lines. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 10 to 20 percent of lead exposure may come from drinking water.

What are the risks of lead exposure?

Lead can cause a variety of adverse health effects. These effects may include:

• increases in the blood pressure of some adults
• delays in physical and mental development in babies and young children
• deficits in the attention span, hearing, and learning abilities of children

How does lead get into my drinking water?

Lead is rarely found naturally in our source water or in treated water in our system. If lead is found in drinking water, it typically dissolves into water over time through corrosion of pipes and plumbing materials. Lead can dissolve into water from pipes, solder, fixtures, faucets (brass) and fittings. Factors that affect the amount of lead in water include mineral content, water mobility, pH and temperature.

Is my home at risk for lead plumbing?

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency defines high-risk homes as follows:

• homes with a lead service line that connects the water main to internal plumbing
• homes with copper pipe and lead solder built before 1988
• homes with lead pipes
• older brass fixtures may also contain lead

I’m concerned my home may have lead plumbing. How can I find out?

Since you cannot see, taste, or smell lead, testing is the only way to confirm if it is present in your drinking water.

Waco residents who are determined to be at risk of lead exposure have the opportunity to get their drinking water tested for free.

For more information about having your water tested for lead, call (254) 299-2489

What if my service line is suspected to contain lead?

If the service lines at your address are suspected to contain lead, copper or galvanized steel, you'll receive a certified letter with additional information. You can use the tips above to reduce your possible lead exposure.

Will my water utility replace my lead service line?

Replacement of customer service lines is the responsibility of the property owner. The city will provide customers with a water filter pitcher to reduce lead exposure due to household plumbing. There is income-based assistance available through the Lead is Preventable Program (LIPP), a City of Waco Housing & Community Development program.

You can contact a licensed plumber for work on your service line, or to determine if you have lead in your private plumbing components.

Waco residents who are determined to be at risk of lead exposure have the opportunity to get their drinking water tested for free.