AMARILLO – In compliance with new federal regulations to reduce the risk of exposure to possible lead sources in city drinking water, the City of Amarillo (COA) is conducting an assessment of all water service lines connected to the COA water system.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) in November 2023. After a comment period, the EPA announced the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) in December 2023. The LCRI was approved by the White House on October 7.
All COA water lines are in the process of inspection. The initial inventory of water lines was released online October 16. Notifications will be mailed to homes by November 15.
Notifications will include information placing water lines in one of the following categories: Unknown, Galvanized or Lead. Water lines that existed prior to the Lead Ban of January 1, 1989, and have yet to be onsite examined will be in the Unknown category. All Unknown water lines will be evaluated by October 2027.
“The LCRI – a nationwide requirement – will help ensure that all water lines connected to the City of Amarillo water system meet or even exceed federal safety requirements,” said COA Assistant City Manager Floyd Hartman. “All City of Amarillo water lines will be inspected onsite to meet this federal requirement.”
Water service lines are a combination of public/private entities. The COA is responsible for identifying the whole of the service line from the water main (public side) and from the water meter to the service connection to the residence (private side).
The LCRI does not apply to plumbing within the home.
Inspections are typically performed inside the meter box. In some cases small holes (potholes) may be dug to verify service lines within the boundary of the private side. These holes will be covered before staff leave the site.
There will be no impact on water supply or water quality.
For information on the COA water system, including water quality reports, go to:
The Texas Commission of Environmental Quality is providing LCRI information at: bit.ly/3C3LnYp
COA is providing an overview on the Lead and Copper Rule and an interactive Water Service Line Assessment Map. The map will allow residents to enter individual addresses for specific water line information. Go to: bit.ly/4hqtnYc
For additional information on LCRI, water line category designation and water line replacement, contact the COA Water Utilities Department at leadline@amarillo.gov or call (806) 378-3000.
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