Lead and Copper Testing

Testing for lead and copper in drinking water is unlike any other testing the utility does because of the sampling requirements.

All other samples analyzed for drinking water compliance are taken by utility employees who hold an operator or distribution system license. Also, the samples are taken from locations in the public water system's control.

Lead and copper samples are taken by the customer from the kitchen tap in their home. The sampling locations must come from locations identified as at-risk for having lead in pipes, plumbing fixtures or solder. 

The utility offers lead testing to all customers for a small cost, but the testing is free for any customer that has an identified lead service line. 

Lead test results

Fort Worth conducted lead and copper testing in 2020 and was in compliance with state and federal regulations. One location exceeded the lead action level of 15 parts per billion. 

If more than five tap water compliance samples (10 percent) exceed the action level, the utility must take additional steps.

For any sampling site exceeding the action level, the water utility:

  • provides the customer with a pitcher filter and three-months of replacement cartridges,
  • provides the customer with information about what can be done to reduce or eliminate lead in drinking water,
  • resamples immediately, 
  • resamples in six months, and 
  • resamples at no charge as frequently as the customer desires.

Fort Worth samples 50 homes every three years that are identified as being at risk for lead exposure. In 2009, at the request of the state regulatory agency, Fort Worth added one apartment complex, one day care and one school to the triennial sampling protocol.

The sampling must be done between June 1 and Sept. 30. TCEQ requires the testing be done in the warmest months because warmer water can increase the possibility of metal dissolving into the water.

Below are the test results for the five most recent sampling periods.

Year Action level Number of sites exceeding action level 90th percentile
2022 15 parts per billion  0 3.3 ppb
2021 15 parts per billion  0 7.1 ppb
2020  15 parts per billion 1 7.7 ppb
2019 15 parts per billion 0 4.7 ppb
2016 15 parts per billion 0 3.2 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 test results

Copper sampling and is tied to lead sampling under federal regulations. Fort Worth samples 50 homes every three years that are identified as being at risk for lead exposure and samples these for copper, too. In 2009, at the request of the state regulatory agency, Fort Worth added one apartment complex, one day care and one school to the triennial sampling protocol.

The sampling must be done between June 1 and Sept. 30. TCEQ requires the testing be done in the warmest months because warmer water can increase the possibility of metal dissolving into the water.

Below are the test results for the five most recent sampling periods.

Year  Action Level  Number of sites exceeding action level 90th percentile value
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
2016  1.3 parts per million 0  0.63 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.

Testing your water

Because you can’t see, smell or taste lead in your water, it can go undetected. Testing is the only way to determine if there is lead in the drinking water at your home. If any of the following apply, you may want to consider testing:

  • Your home was built before 1986. These are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder.
  • Your home has brass, copper plumbing and/or chrome-plated fixtures.
  • You see signs of corrosion from your water (frequent leaks, rust-colored water, stained sinks, dishes, or laundry).

Options for testing

You may have your water tested at the Fort Worth water lab or a TCEQ-approved third-party laboratory. All compliance sampling lead test results must be reported to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, but special requests for sampling are not reported to TCEQ.

A list of certified laboratories is available on the TCEQ website. Contact labs directly for information on cost and sampling bottles.

The Fort Worth Water laboratory is a TCEQ accredited laboratory. Lead testing is $15 per each faucet tested. Lead and copper testing is $30 per each faucet tested.

If you wish to have your water sampled, please contact the Water Call Center at 817-392-4477 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Lead and Copper Analysis Request Form(PDF, 29KB)

 

 

 

Compliance sampling process

When the Lead and Copper Rule took effect in 1993, Fort Worth and all public drinking water systems were required to submit a list of 100 addresses that were known to have lead service lines or lead solder. That list was recently expanded to include 100 additional sites. That same list is used today to select the 50 sites used for Fort Worth’s lead and copper compliance sampling.

  • Lead samples are taken from a tap inside the home or business.
  • The sample is actually taken by the customer and not a licensed, water professional.
  • It is the only water quality sampling done this way. 

Step 2.Requirements

  • The water must sit in the pipes for a minimum of six hours and maximum of 18 hours without any use, including no flushing.
  • The water must be the first flush out the faucet.
  • Most samples are taken first thing in the morning, though the sample could be taken after someone returns from work to an empty home.
  • The sample must be taken from a regularly used cold water tap, preferably the kitchen sink.
  • If the faucet has an aerator, it should not be removed prior to taking the sample.

Step 3.The Fort Worth Water laboratory provides

  • sample bottles
  • sampling instructions
  • sampling form
  • training to the customer.

Step 4.Complete the form

The customer must complete and sign a form that includes:

  • the date and time the sample was taken,
  • the date and time the water was last used, and 
  • which faucet was used to take the sample (i.e. kitchen, bathroom, etc.).

Once the sample is taken, the customer notifies the lab the sample and completed form are ready for pick-up.

 

Resources

More Information

Contact Us

817-392-4477 (24/7 for water emergencies, Select Option 1)

 

Call Center hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding city holidays.

 

MyWaterAccount@FortWorthTexas.gov

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