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Lead

Keeping Lead Out of Our Water

Austin is fortunate to have very low levels of lead in drinking water compared to other parts of the country. Our source waters of Lake Austin and Lake Travis contain no lead, and there is no lead in Austin's treated drinking water.

Austin Water's lime softening treatment process, in use since the 1920s, produces non-corrosive, scale-forming water that creates a protective coating on the inside of pipes. This prevents materials such as lead and copper from leaching into the water. More than 30 years before federal bans took effect, Austin also enacted local rules prohibiting lead in plumbing. When lead is occasionally detected at the tap, it is almost always due to contamination from private plumbing or fixtures.

In October 2024, Austin Water completed field investigations of all water service lines in the system. There are no lead service lines in Austin Water's distribution system.

Austin Water's Lead-Out Timeline

1954 — Austin banned lead water service pipelines on the public side of the water distribution system.
1960s — Austin Water began replacing lead service lines through routine maintenance and rehabilitation.
1967 — Austin banned lead piping in private plumbing, more than 30 years before federal rules required it.
1980s — Austin Water became a partner in the Clean Rivers Program, expanding water protections for lakes and streams in our jurisdiction.
1986 — The federal government banned leaded pipe and solder in new plumbing systems. Federal regulations have been refined over time, making the definition of "lead-free" materials increasingly conservative.
2016 — Austin Water began a comprehensive record review and material inventory of all public water service lines, prioritizing lines serving schools and licensed childcare facilities. No lead pipes were found.
2023 — Austin Water began collaborating with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to promote voluntary lead testing in schools and childcare facilities across Central Texas.
2024 — Austin Water completed field investigations of all water service lines. There are no lead service lines in the system. The full inventory is available in the water service line material inventory map.
2025 — Austin Water began proactively replacing galvanized lines identified as requiring replacement. Learn more about the Galvanized Requiring Replacement program.

Lead in Private Plumbing

Lead sources are most often found on the property owner's side of the meter. Although a property may have lead piping, solder or fixtures, it does not necessarily mean residents are exposed to lead. Austin Water's lime softening process helps coat pipes and prevent corrosion on the private side as well. However, identifying and replacing potential lead sources on private property is a good precaution.

Austin Water is responsible for the water main and service line up to the meter. Property owners are responsible for the pipes from the meter into the building.

Sources of Lead in Drinking Water

Common sources of lead in drinking water include lead pipes, solder and brass plumbing components such as faucets, fixtures and pipe fittings. In Austin, lead pipes are less common than in many other U.S. cities because Austin stopped allowing lead pipe in private construction in 1967.

Galvanized iron or steel pipes that were previously connected downstream of a lead pipe — known as galvanized requiring replacement (GRR) lines — may have absorbed lead and can present increased risk of lead exposure. Homes built before 1986, when federal rules began requiring lead-free pipes and solder, have long been considered most at risk. Fittings and fixtures were not included in these rules until 1996, with the most recent revisions to "lead-free" standards applied in 2014.

Your property's build date can be found through your county's appraisal district. For Travis County properties, visit the Travis Central Appraisal District.

Reducing Your Lead Risk

If you are concerned about possible lead exposure, consider these steps.

Run your water. Flushing your plumbing after periods without use — such as first thing in the morning, after work or after returning from vacation — is a good practice regardless of lead concerns. Let cold water run for two to five minutes from every tap used for drinking or cooking. Showering, washing clothes, flushing the toilet and running the dishwasher are all effective ways to flush pipes while conserving water.

Use cold water only for drinking and cooking. Heat can cause lead to be released from plumbing materials if lead is present. Boiling water does not remove lead.

Clean faucet aerators regularly. Sediment and lead particles can collect on faucet screens. Remove and clean aerators often.

Use certified filters. Filters certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 remove lead. For particulate reduction, look for NSF/ANSI Standard 42. See the EPA's guide to identifying filters certified to reduce lead (PDF). Always follow filter directions and replace cartridges before they expire. Never run hot water through a filter.

Find and replace lead sources. The most common problems in homes without lead service lines are brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and plumbing with lead solder. New plumbing products should be certified lead-free under NSF/ANSI Standards 61 and 372. See the EPA's guide to identifying lead-free certification marks (PDF). A licensed plumber can help you understand your home's plumbing.

Test your water. If you think your plumbing or fixtures may contain lead, testing can confirm whether lead has entered your water. Request a free water test kit online or call Austin Water at 512-972-2133.

Galvanized Requiring Replacement Program

Austin Water has no lead water service lines in its inventory. However, some service lines have been identified as galvanized requiring replacement (GRR) because they have galvanized iron or steel pipe between the meter and the building and their prior connection history is unclear. These pipes may have absorbed lead if they were ever downstream of a lead pipe.

Austin Water is proactively replacing all GRR lines. Property owners with GRR service lines have been notified of their line's status.

Schools and Childcare Facilities

Austin Water prioritized schools and licensed childcare facilities in its service line material inventory. No lead was found in public lines serving these facilities. However, premise plumbing and fixtures remain the most common sources of lead in drinking water. Aging or complex plumbing systems in schools and childcare facilities can leave children at continued risk of exposure, and neither federal nor state regulations currently require these facilities to test for lead in their water.

Austin Water encourages schools and childcare facilities to enroll in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's free voluntary lead testing program, which provides free testing and free water filters where lead is found.

Free Water Testing

Austin Water offers free water testing for residents concerned about lead in their plumbing or fixtures.

Request a free water test kit online
Call Austin Water at 512-972-2133

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality also offers free sampling and analysis for schools and childcare facilities. Visit the TCEQ voluntary lead testing program to enroll.

For general information about lead in drinking water, contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visit the EPA's lead in drinking water page.