Lead Awareness
Protecting public health is a priority for El Paso Water. In fact, our drinking water system is rated superior by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
When drinking water leaves our treatment plants it is free of lead. However, there is a risk that plumbing materials made with lead will corrode and affect our drinking water quality. This includes pipes buried in the ground, home plumbing, solder, and fixtures.
As part of ensuring superior water quality, El Paso Water implements corrosion control strategies to maintain high-quality water as it travels through pipes to your home. EPWater also conducts over 370,000 tests annually to ensure our drinking water is safe.
El Paso Water monitors lead levels throughout our systems. In older homes (pre-1989), lead may have been used in some plumbing fixtures. Very low levels of lead have been detected in some older homes, but levels were well below limits set by the EPA.
EPA updated rules on lead
All public water systems must comply with updated federal regulations related to lead starting in October of 2024. All utilities must complete an inventory for every service connection and document the existing pipe material for both utility and customer owned portions of the service line (from the meter to your home or business).
Customers should know:
- EPWater is currently conducting an inventory of service line materials on both sides of the meter.
- To search by address and view the regularly updated service line map to see if your home is affected.
- Customers with service lines classified as lead or “galvanized requiring replacement”, or unknown, will receive a notice in November of 2024.
- If a lead pipe is found, replacement is required.
Steps to reduce lead in drinking water
The recommended following actions will help lessen the likelihood of lead in your drinking water. Not all actions equally reduce lead in drinking water.
If you have further questions about the EPWater Lead Investigation Program, contact EPWater at LCR@epwater.org or (915) 263-4280.
Additionally, EPA offers more information on lead in service lines and interior plumbing and find more information about other sources of lead at the Texas Department of Health Services.
Use filters properly
We do not feel filters are necessary, and many commercial filters do not remove lead, but using a filter that is certified to remove lead can be effective. Read directions provided to learn how to properly install, maintain, and use your cartridge and when to replace it. Expired filters may not be effective. Do not run hot water through the filter.
Use cold water
Do not use hot water from the tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula as lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Boiling water does not remove lead from water.
Clean your aerator
Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (the aerator). Sediment and lead particles can collect in your aerator, which can get into your water.
Run your water
The more time water has been sitting in pipes, the more lead it may contain. Before drinking, taking a shower, doing laundry or doing dishes, flush your pipes by running the tap for at least a minute or until the temperature changes.
Learn about construction in your neighborhood
Construction may cause more lead to be released from a lead service line or galvanized service line if present. If you see your water is discolored, let your water run until it clears up. It is not lead, but may contain lead if your service line does.
Learn what your service line material is
El Paso Water will determine if your service line is made from lead, galvanized, or other materials. If you are concerned or cannot wait, a licensed plumber can make that determination. Click here to find out whether the material for your line has been identified or is still unknown.
Lead Awareness FAQs
That simply means that EPWater service workers have not yet completed an inspection of the pipe at your home. Over the next year or so, we plan to inspect all unknown lines and document the material used for the pipe that goes from the water main to your meter and from the meter to your home (or business). Click here to see an up-to-date map of the status of your service line.
EPWater is using a combination of records analysis and inspections of service lines to determine the material used. The inspection can be a simple visual inspection or, if the line is buried and not visible at the meter, it may require excavation and a scratch test.
We have prioritized the sections of the city with older homes and therefore an increased risk of lead service lines. In 1986, Congress enacted the “lead ban,” which required public water systems to use “lead-free materials” when installing or repairing water pipes. As a result, homes built in or after 1988 are far less likely to have lead service lines.
You will be notified only if the line is made of lead or of galvanized pipe requiring replacement. If for some reason we have not inspected your line within a year, you will receive another notice – and a notice annually after that – until the pipe material is confirmed. This will be updated as the investigation continues, and you can always check the map to see if the investigation at your home was completed and what material is documented for your address.
The requirement is to replace the service line to the home or business. For any interior plumbing, it is the customer’s responsibility. We recommend that you consult a plumber for any interior plumbing concerns.
We are offering to replace the line early in this process at EPWater expense. It is a regulatory requirement that must be completed within a decade. If you elect not to allow us to complete the replacement, you can sign a release indicating you will replace it on your own at your own expense.
