Arlington Water Utilities Seeks Homeowners for New Round of Lead and Copper Testing
By Traci Peterson, Arlington Water Utilities
Posted on March 31, 2020, March 31, 2020

Lead and Copper Testing 

Arlington Water Utilities will conduct two rounds of lead and copper testing over the next year, and the department needs help from residents whose homes were built between 1982 and 1988.

The new testing is required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality because of water treatment plant upgrades that the City of Arlington has recently completed. Previously, Arlington's lead and copper testing frequency was decreased from every six months to a three-year schedule by the TCEQ because of its history of testing results registering well below established limits. The most recent tests were conducted in 2018 and showed zero samples reading above the EPA-mandated action level for lead or copper.

The Lead and Copper Rule, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program, is designed to minimize lead and copper levels in drinking water to protect the public health. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Older homes are more likely to have plumbing fixtures containing lead.

For the new testing required because of the plant upgrades, Arlington Water Utilities will need to collect samples from 100 homes in the next few months. This is how residents can help:

Is your home eligible?

The Lead and Copper rule, which was adopted in 1991 by the EPA, requires Arlington Water to test for lead and copper in homes built during a specific time period. For this testing, a home must be built between 1982 and 1988.

Residents who take part will be mailed test results for their house for free AND they will receive a $25 credit on their next Arlington Water Utilities bill following completion of the second sample collection.

What is required of participants?

The TCEQ rules require that a resident collect a water sample after 6 hours of no water use. Arlington Water Utilities will provide the bottles and pick them up from the residents’ homes afterward, observing any social distancing precautions in place at the time. The new testing requirement calls for two samples to be taken at each location over the next year. Staff from Arlington Water Utilities Laboratory will work with residents to determine when to schedule testing.

When will results be ready?

The results of the testing will be mailed to participants within 5 weeks after sampling is conducted. Our laboratory staff will be available to explain the results to you and recommend steps residents may want to take in response to the test results.

If you believe your home is eligible and would like more information about the process, please contact the Laboratory at 817-575-8984.

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