San Angelo Needs Homes to Test Water Quality

SAN ANGELO, TX -- (Press Release) San Angelo’s Water Utilities Department is seeking homeowners to participate in a free household water-quality testing program.

The program will check homes’ water and plumbing for the presence of lead and copper. The state requires the testing as a public health safety measure. San Angelo has had zero violations.

The Texas Commission for Environmental Quality requires the Water Utilities Department to increase the program and number of test sites to 100 homes now that San Angelo’s population has surpassed 100,000 residents.

To participate in the program, homeowners must first verify whether their home has lead plumbing, lead-based solder or a lead service line to the City’s water main. Homes built after 1988 typically do not have lead in their lines.

To check for a lead service line or lead plumbing, find the water service line that enters a home from the City water main. Scratch the outside of the water line with a screwdriver, knife or other metal object. If the etch is silver-gray in color, it is likely a lead service line. If it is copper-colored, it likely does not contain lead. To determine if a home has lead plumbing lines, check the inside plumbing under a kitchen or bathroom sink the same way one would check for a lead service line.

Homeowners who confirm their home has either lead-based plumbing or a lead service line will qualify to participate in this study. Contact the Water Utilities Department at 325-481-2722 or [email protected] for more information.