Water Supply Materials Inventory

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Pearland Water in partnership with contractor LJA Engineering / Environmental will soon begin the process of identifying and inventorying water service lines material types within City limits for residential service lines of dwellings built before 1989.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently revised the 1991 Lead and Copper Rule, an initiative established to enhance drinking water safety by minimizing copper and lead concentrations. This latest revision, with a primary goal of sustaining public health protection, imposes more stringent measures to mitigate the risk of tap water contamination. Under this nationwide directive, all public water systems must conduct a comprehensive inventory of service line materials in the local water distribution networks. Public water systems are mandated to achieve compliance with these new guidelines by October 16, 2024, as stipulated by the EPA.

For more information regarding the efforts Pearland Water is making to improve our customer’s water and the overall water system within the City of Pearland, check out the FAQs here:

What is a Service Line?

What types of Service Lines are the City of Pearland inventorying?

Who owns the Service Line, the City of Pearland or the customer?

What is Lead?

What defines a Service Line as being a Lead Service Line?

Are all residential Service Lines potentially Lead Service Lines?

Is the water I get from Pearland Water safe to drink and use?

What is the Lead & Copper Rule Improvement (LCRI) and why is it important for our city's water system?

What actions are Pearland Water taking to ensure the accuracy of the Water Supply Materials Inventory?

The City and contractor are reviewing historical records, such as engineered drawings, construction documents, tap/connection reports, etc., to aid in the determination of material type from a desktop analysis of the system. If material type is questionable or undetermined, physical investigations would occur at the location. Field material type is determined by inspecting a small portion of the service line(s) and conducting a magnetic test and a scratch test. Based on the results of the pipe color, density, magnetism, and other characteristics, it will determine the pipe material type. These tests, protocols, and methodologies are accepted and recommended by both the EPA and TCEQ.

When does the City expect for the Water Supply Materials Inventory to be completed?

How does Pearland Water's monitoring process for lead and copper work, how often does it take place, and where are the specific locations samples are collected?

The City is currently scheduled to conduct a minimum of 200 samples in 2024, 100 samples each in the first and second half of the year, and report results to the TCEQ. During the previous sampling event, none of the lead and copper samples exceeded the action level. Tap samples are collected by customers from kitchen sinks and bathroom faucets at TCEQ approved locations, analyzed by an approved laboratory, and reported to TCEQ to assure safe drinking water and meet regulatory compliance requirements.

What role does the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) play in overseeing and regulating Pearland Water's quality, especially in relation to lead and copper levels?

The TCEQ is the state’s primary agency for the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The EPA regulates water systems through the SDWA, but allows the local agency, in Texas’s case the TCEQ, to further regulate drinking water. The TCEQ is allowed to enact additional regulations beyond the EPA. TCEQ is the ultimate authority as their conditions will either meet or surpass the EPA requirements.

Where can I find more information about filters that reduce lead?

Current progress of the City of Pearland's water supply materials inventorying process can be viewed below in the live-view map: