Fort Worth's 2025 lead and copper testing results show the city's water complied with state and federal regulations.
The utility is on reduced monitoring for lead and copper, meaning 50 sites are tested every three years. The sampling must be done between June 1 and Sept. 30. Sampling occurs in the warmest months because warmer water can increase the possibility of metal dissolving into the water. The 50 samples must come from locations identified as at-risk for having lead in pipes, plumbing fixtures or solder. The locations must be on a list approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Lead and copper are regulated by an action level instead of a maximum contaminant level. If more than 10 percent of the compliance samples collected exceed the action level, the utility must take additional actions relating to adjusting the water chemistry.
Sampling for lead and copper in drinking water is unlike any other testing the utility does because of the sampling requirements.
Customers take lead and copper samples from the kitchen tap in their home. The 50 samples must come from locations identified as at-risk for having lead in pipes, plumbing fixtures or solder. The locations must be on a list approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
All other samples analyzed for drinking water compliance are taken by utility employees who hold an operator or distribution system license and are from locations under the public water system's control.
Below are the test results for the five most recent sampling periods.
Lead testing results
| Year |
Action level |
Number of sites exceeding action level |
90th percentile |
| 2025 |
15 parts per billion (ppb) |
0 |
2.8 ppb |
| 2022 |
15 parts per billion (ppb) |
0 |
3.3 ppb |
| 2021 |
15 parts per billion (ppb) |
0 |
7.1 ppb |
| 2020 |
15 parts per billion (ppb) |
1 |
7.7 ppb |
| 2019 |
15 parts per billion (ppb) |
0 |
4.7 ppb |
The 90th percentile value means 90 percent of the samples were at or below this value. EPA considers the 90th percentile value the same as an “average” value for other contaminants. Lead and copper are regulated by a treatment technique that requires water systems to control the corrosiveness of their water.
Copper testing results
| Year |
Action Level |
Number of sites exceeding action level |
90th percentile value |
| 2025 |
1.3 parts per million |
0 |
0.6 ppm |
| 2022 |
1.3 parts per million |
0 |
0.37 ppm |
| 2021 |
1.3 parts per million |
0 |
0.5 ppm |
| 2020 |
1.3 parts per million |
0 |
0.41 ppm |
| 2019 |
1.3 parts per million |
0 |
0.72 ppm |
The 90th percentile value means 90 percent of the samples were at or below this value. EPA considers the 90th percentile value the same as an “average” value for other contaminants. Lead and copper are regulated by a treatment technique that requires water systems to control the corrosiveness of their water.