City warns residents about water pipes at risk of exposure to lead

The City of Gatesville recently distributed notices to hundreds of properties about pipes made from galvanized material that are at risk for absorbing lead.

Also called a service line, water pipes made from galvanized material are common in homes or buildings built before the 1960s. The notice states that homes with galvanized service lines that have absorbed lead can contribute to lead in drinking water.

Although galvanized material does not necessarily mean that lead is currently present in a home’s drinking water, the city is urging residents who receive the notice to replace their service lines as a precaution.

“We’re not saying there’s lead in their galvanized lines, but since they are galvanized, it is just a good practice to go ahead and send these letters,” Public Works Director Chad Newman said.

As a requirement by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Newman said the city had to develop an inventory of galvanized service lines that connect to the city’s main water system and need replacements. While some of the service lines are on the city’s side, the majority of them will need to be replaced by the customer.

“Out of 554 service lines that are galvanized (and) requiring replacement, there are 115 that are galvanized on the city side,” Newman said. “We are working on those (115) right now. Those will be replaced within the next year.”

Homeowners can replace galvanized service lines with pipes made from polyethylene or PVC, he said.

Newman adds that there is no indication that there is lead in the city’s drinking water.

“We do lead and copper samples every year – a test that TCEQ makes us do – and we pass with flying colors and there is none detected,” Newman said.

Every quarter, the city will send a round of the notices to properties that do not replace their galvanized service lines. The most recent round was distributed in January. Those who did not receive a notice do not need to replace their lines.

According to the EPA, lead in drinking water can cause health effects in all age groups. In infants and children, it can lead to decreases in IQ and attention span, as well as to new learning and behavioral problems. The children of those who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy may also be at risk of these health effects.

Lead exposure in adults can lead to increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.

Although the best method is to replace the line, there are a few additional steps homeowners can take to reduce lead in drinking water:

• Use filters certified to remove lead
• Clean your aerator or faucet’s screen
• Use cold water since lead dissolves more easily in hot water
• Run your water regularly – the more time water has been sitting in pipes, the more lead it may contain
• Have your water tested – contact your water utility to learn more about lead levels in drinking water
• Learn about construction in your neighborhood – construction may cause more lead to be released from a galvanized service line

For questions about the notice or replacing a property’s service lines, call Water Distribution & Street Superintendent Dale Allen 254-216-2410 or Newman at 254-535-2191.

For residents who have replaced or plan on replacing their service lines, call Allen or Newman so the city can update their service line inventory.

To learn more about preventing lead exposure, visit https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/prevention/index.html