Starting today, Denton Water Utilities is initiating a city-wide inspection of service lines as part of an effort to comply with the latest revisions to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead & Copper Rule. The objective is to ensure that the drinking water system is free from sources of lead, enhancing safety for all residents.
Denton has a strong track record of exceeding water quality standards, and the water treated in the city’s facilities does not contain lead. However, lead can still enter the water supply through corrosion in older service lines and plumbing components that contain lead. The revised EPA rules require the city to identify and catalog both public and private service lines, focusing on those installed before 1989, after which the use of lead in construction was banned in Texas.
The comprehensive inventory will involve checking construction and repair records and conducting visual inspections. This information will be submitted to the EPA by October 2024. Following the inventory, Denton will develop a plan to replace any lead-containing service lines identified. Residents with lead service lines or lines of unknown materials will be notified directly by the city.
Denton Water Utilities is committed to maintaining transparency and will ensure that the inventory is accessible to all customers. Residents interested in learning more about the project can view an informative video provided by the city detailing the inventory efforts.