Water utility notifying customers with galvanized service lines

Water utility notifying customers with galvanized service lines

Published on October 26, 2024

Fort Worth Water completed an inventory of all service lines in its system, including the portion on private property, as required by federal regulations. The inventory map is available online.

The big picture: While the inventory does not contain any lead service lines, 32,590 service lines are classified as galvanized requiring replacement (GRR). Only the privately owned portion is galvanized pipe.

In only 361 locations can the utility confirm lead existed at one-time on the utility-owned service line portion. Because the utility cannot prove the utility-owned service line portion was never lead in the vast majority of locations, these service lines must be classified as galvanized requiring replacement.

The issue with galvanized pipes:

• If the utility-owned portion was ever lead, galvanized service lines can absorb lead, contributing to lead in drinking water.
• People in homes in homes or businesses with a galvanized service line that has absorbed lead may have an increased risk of exposure to lead from their drinking water.

Over the next few weeks, customers with service lines classified as GRR should receive a notice.

• The notices are sent to both the billing address and the location address, when the two do not match.
• Copies are being hand-delivered to management at multi-unit properties with 10 units or more for management to distribute.

Why it matters: Lead exposure can affect the health of people of all ages, but children and pregnant women are at the highest risk.

The bottom line: Protecting public health is the top priority for Fort Worth Water. Residents and the water utility share responsibility for eliminating the risk of lead getting into drinking water.

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates water quality with the Lead and Copper Rule.
• Fort Worth's drinking water meets all EPA standards.
• Leads enters drinking water when there is a chemical reaction between the water and lead in plumbing materials, such as home plumbing, solder and fixtures.

What's next: If you dispute the service line material identified for your property, complete an online form for reinvestigation.

Go deeper:See more information about the utility's actions to protect customers, lead sources and what you can do to reduce your exposure.

Photo:Service line ownership is shared by the utility and the property owner. The service line is the pipe that connects the water main to the building inlet.

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