Fort Worth conducted lead and copper testing in 2022 and was in compliance with state and federal regulations. The utility is on reduced monitoring for lead and copper. The testing is done once every three years at 50 locations from list of locations identified as being at higher risk.
The next testing occurs in 2025. 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.
Lead and copper are regulated by an action level instead of a maximum contaminant level.
If more than five tap water compliance samples (10 percent) exceed the action level, the utility must take additional actions relating to adjusting the water chemistry,
Sampling 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. 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 50 samples must come from locations identified as at-risk for having lead in pipes, plumbing fixtures or solder. The locations must be on a list approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Below are the test results for the five most recent sampling periods.
Lead testing results
| Year |
Action level |
Number of sites exceeding action level |
90th percentile |
| 2022 |
15 parts per billion (ppb) |
0 |
3.3 ppb |
| 2021 |
15 parts per billion (ppb) |
0 |
7.1 ppb |
| 2020 |
15 parts per billion (ppb) |
1 |
7.7 ppb |
| 2019 |
15 parts per billion (ppb) |
0 |
4.7 ppb |
| 2016 |
15 parts per billion (ppb) |
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 testing results
| 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.