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1. Where does lead and copper found in drinking water come from?

Lead and copper can be found naturally in water reservoirs throughout Texas, but at extremely low levels. In fact, levels of lead and copper in reservoirs are so low that they are not a health concern. However, if water is not properly treated to minimize its corrosive tendencies, the water delivered to customers can dissolve lead or copper found in customer-owned plumbing. Prior to 1986, lead was a common component of building plumbing. In 1986, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act (originally adopted in 1974) to prohibit the use of pipes, solder or flux that are not “lead free” in drinking water distribution systems. Lead free is defined as no more than 0.2% lead in flux or solder, and no more than 8% lead in pipes. In 2014, Congress further reduced allowable lead content from 8% to 0.25% in pipes and fittings.

2. How does lead and copper from pipes get into my drinking water?

Water, by its very nature, is corrosive to most metals over time. Corrosive is just another term to describe the ability of water to dissolve lead or copper in a customer’s plumbing into the drinking water. A water treatment facility can minimize water’s corrosive tendencies by adjusting the pH (acidity) of the water, monitoring the amount of dissolved minerals in the water which may inhibit corrosion, and by adding other chemicals, such as phosphates, to protect the water pipes. Because Southlake purchases its treated drinking water from the City of Fort Worth, the City of Southlake advises the City of Fort Worth on the quality of the water which we receive in order to ensure the utmost quality for our customers.

3. Why is lead and copper testing important?

Lead can pose significant health risks if too much of it enters your body. Lead builds up in the body over many years and can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells, and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young children and pregnant women. Amounts of lead that will not harm adults can slow the mental and physical development of growing bodies.

4. Does my home contain lead and copper?

Historically, copper piping was very common in homes built over the last 50 years. Older copper piping was also connected using lead tin solder (a soft metal that was melted, then cooled and solidified) and a lead-containing flux which aided in the connection or soldering process. In addition, in many plumbing fixtures such as kitchen or bathroom faucets, lead was added to the metal brass to make it easier to manufacture the faucets. Considering that most homes in Southlake were built within the last 20 years, it is unlikely that lead was used as a piping material for drinking water plumbing. Lead has largely been banned from plumbing fixtures in the United States.

5. Is there anything I can do to protect myself from high levels of lead or copper dissolved from my own plumbing?

Yes, the most effective way to reduce exposure to lead and copper from a home’s plumbing is to always allow the water to run until the water is noticeably cooler than when the faucet was opened, typically 30 seconds to 2 minutes. This allows the amount of water sitting in the home’s water line to be flushed away before water is used for consumption. This flushing has been consistently shown through testing to be very effective in reducing lead and copper exposure. In addition, if you know or suspect that you have lead in your plumbing, never use water from your hot water faucet for cooking or to prepare infant formula.

6. How is the water in Southlake tested for lead and copper?

Southlake water is tested for lead and copper using the precise protocol outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). This protocol is designed to test for lead and copper under the worst conditions possible. For instance, lead and copper samples are collected from “first draw” samples, meaning the water has been in contact with a customer’s plumbing for at least six hours without disruption and will be the first water drawn in the morning. Since water can dissolve metals into the water through a process known as leaching, drawing the first water from a faucet in the morning should provide the worst conditions possible for lead and copper leaching. Additionally, since water can become more corrosive the warmer it becomes, samples must be taken during the summer months.

Southlake collects and tests 30 routine samples once every year for lead and copper as required by the TCEQ. Southlake then follows chain of custody protocol to deliver the samples to an approved, accredited testing laboratory.

7. How were the sample sites for Southlake testing selected?

Following the U.S. EPA protocol of attempting to determine the worst case scenario for lead or copper testing, the plumbing of Southlake customer’s homes was researched through plumbing permits and building records of homes to identify lead and copper used in building materials. Selecting homes with this criteria allows Southlake to sample for the worst case scenario.

8. How can I access the results of lead and copper testing in Southlake?

All the lead and copper testing results are reported in Southlake’s annual Drinking Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report). The Drinking Water Quality Report for the most recent full year is available on the City’s website. A comprehensive list of the results can be found on the City’s Lead and Copper Sampling Program page.

9. Can I have my home tested for lead and copper?

If your home is one that has been selected as a sample site through the ongoing lead and copper testing program, you will receive the test results for that testing. However, if you home is not part of the program, then Southlake will provide you with a one-time courtesy test for lead and copper. For additional testing, Southlake can provide you with a list of private certified laboratories that are capable of analyzing water samples for lead and copper content for a fee.

10. What have Southlake’s lead and copper test results indicated about our water?

Since the start of the testing program in 2007, Southlake’s lead and copper testing has consistently shown levels of these metals to be well below the Action Level (“AL”) set by U.S. EPA. For a table of results, please visit the City of Southlake's Lead and Copper Sampling Program page.