Water Service Line Inventory

The City of Taylor is compiling a comprehensive water service line inventory to ensure residents continue to receive safe and clean drinking water. Taylor has delivered high-quality and reliable water services for generations, and we are committed to upholding this standard. This inventory will also help the City comply with federal and state quality standards, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first established the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) in 1991 to protect public health and reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are primarily through the corrosion of lead service lines and home fixtures. Since its initial inception, the LCR has undergone various revisions. The EPA’s 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) detail a series of requirements that all public water systems in the U.S. must meet by October 16, 2024, to prevent drinking water contamination.

Identifying a Water Service Line

Know what’s below

Do you know what your pipes are made of? You can identify the material of the water service pipe that is entering your home or building. The best place to do this is where the water pipe enters your home, as close as possible to where it enters the wall or floor.

The City of Taylor’s water service line inventory will identify all customers’ service lines. The City will directly notify any customer whose water is served through service lines containing lead. As of July 2024, the City has not identified any lead service lines.

Take the test

The tests described below can help you determine the material of your pipes. It’s important to perform the scratch and magnet tests because it may be difficult to tell the difference between lead and galvanized pipes.

FAQs

Q: Is my drinking water safe?

Yes. Your water is clean, high quality, and safe to drink. Water provided by the City of Taylor does not contain lead. [Link to Water Quality Report.] Public health, economic development, and quality of life in our city are contingent upon a reliable and safe tap water supply. Our water is tested for more than 100 substances and is monitored throughout the year to ensure that it meets the rigorous standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Q: What is the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR)?

The LCR is a federal regulation that aims to protect public health by minimizing lead and copper levels in drinking water. It requires water systems to control the corrosivity of water and to act if lead or copper levels exceed set action levels.

Q: How does lead get into drinking water?

Water provided by the City of Taylor does not contain lead. The most common source of lead in drinking water is from household plumbing as found in certain brass fixtures, copper piping joined with lead-based solder, and lead service lines. When water stands for several hours in lead pipes or plumbing fixtures containing lead, the lead may dissolve into the water due to the corrosive nature of the water. Lead particles can attach to the surface of galvanized material like galvanized steel and iron. Read the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s guidance on Lead in Drinking Water (https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water) to learn more. City, state, and federal regulations, such as the Lead and Copper Rule, protect public health by minimizing lead and copper levels in drinking water.

Water Service Line Inventory