Drinking Water Lead and Copper Program
Lead & Copper Tap Monitoring
- 2023 L/C 6M2 List - Sample during July 1 through December 31, 2023
- 2023 L/C Reduced List - Sample during June 1 through September 30, 2023
- 2023 L/C 6M1 List - Sample during January 1 through June 30, 2023
Water Quality Parameter Monitoring
- 6M1 2023 - Sample during January 1 through June 30, 2023
- 6M2 2023 - Sample during July 1 through December 31, 2023
- Annual 2023 - Sample during January 1 through December 31, 2023
The information below includes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sampling guidance along with PWS instructions and homeowner instructions. The PWS recommendations and guidance are to assist you in your sampling events and include the removal and cleaning of aerators, pre-stagnation flushing, and bottle configuration.
- Initial or Routine 6M Monitoring Period Instructions
- Reduced PWS Monitoring Instructions
- Guidance on Classification Tiers
- Homeowner instructions - English
- Homeowner instructions - Spanish
Table 1: Action Levels and Reduced Monitoring Levels for Lead and Copper
| LEAD | COPPER |
Action Level (AL) | 0.015 mg/L | 1.3 mg/L |
Reduced Monitoring Level (RML) | 0.005 mg/L | 0.65 mg/L |
Table 2: Number of Tap Samples Required for Initial/Routine and Reduced Monitoring based on population served.
System Size (number of people served) | Number of Sites for Initial/Routine Monitoring | Number of Sites for Reduced Monitoring (1YR, 3YR, or 9YR) |
More than 100,000 | 100 | 50 |
10,001 to 100,000 | 60 | 30 |
3,301 to 10,000 | 40 | 20 |
501 to 3,300 | 20 | 10 |
101 to 500 | 10 | 5 |
100 or fewer | 5 | 5 |
Initial Sampling: Systems must complete two (2) rounds of consecutive six-month sampling. The monitoring periods for collection are:
6M1: Jan 1 - June 30, analytical results are due to TCEQ no later than July 10
6M2: July 1 - Dec 31, analytical results are due to TCEQ no later than Jan 10
Reduced Sampling: Systems that have completed their two rounds of initial sampling can be reduced to 1 year or 3-year sampling based on their 90th percentile lead and copper sampling during their initial sampling period. Reduced monitoring has a second requirement of a seasonal sampling period.
Reduced: Jun 1 - Sept 30, analytical results are due to TCEQ no later than Oct 10
Lead and Copper Tap Sampling Forms
PWSs are required to use these forms to help them with Lead and Copper Rule sampling. All sampling site addresses should be reviewed before sampling and updated if needed.
Sample Site Selection and Materials Survey
- Form 20467a: Sample Site Selection and Materials Survey for Sampling Pool Community
- Form 20467b: Sample Site Selection and Materials Survey for Sampling Pool NTNC
Lead and Copper Chain of Custody
Lead Consumer Notice
- Community PWS: Form 20680a (English), Form 20680a-esp (Spanish): CWS to report and certify customer lead results after the PWS receives the analytical results back from the laboratory.
- NTNC PWS: Form 20680b (English), Form 20680b-esp (Spanish): NTNC PWS to report and certify customer lead results after the PWS receives the analytical results back from the laboratory.
- Only one LCN per MP needs to be submitted to TCEQ.
Treatment Change Notification
- Form 20807: Notification of Treatment Start Date: PWS to report new source or new treatment in water system.
Water Quality Parameters (WQPs) under the LCR are used to determine the corrosivity of water flowing through the distribution system. All PWSs with a population of over 50,000, new PWSs of all populations, and any PWS that exceeds the action levels are required to sample for WQPs.
WQP Analytes | |||
pH | Conductivity | Iron | Sulfate |
Alkalinity | Calcium | Manganese | Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) |
Temperature | Chloride | Sodium | Hardness |
*Also, an inhibitor such as orthophosphate and/or silica, if added.
- UPDATE Form 20679: WQP Chain of Custody/Monitoring Form- Reporting WQP analytical and field results.
- Water Quality Parameter Sampling Instructions - Instructions on how to collect, analyze and report WQPs.
- WQP Sampling Example Standard Operating Procedure - Water Quality Parameter Standard Operating Procedure Template for Public Water Systems
Water Quality Parameter Sampling Requirements
Table 2: Number of Water Quality Parameter samples required for Initial/Routine and Reduced Monitoring based on population served.
System Size (number of people served) | Number of Sites for Initial/Routine monitoring | Number of sites for Reduced monitoring |
More than 100,000 | 25 | 10 |
10,001 to 100,000 | 10 | 7 |
3,301 to 10,000 | 3 | 3 |
501 to 3,300 | 2 | 2 |
101 to 500 | 1 | 1 |
100 or fewer | 1 | 1 |
***The number of samples listed above are sampled quarterly - twice within a six-month monitoring period.
For TCEQ to utilize sample analysis data, each sample must be analyzed by a National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) Accredited laboratory or a TCEQ approved laboratory utilizing approved/accepted sampling methods and adhering to the Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Program Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).
Lead and Copper Tap Sampling
Lead and copper samples must be analyzed by a laboratory that is NELAP accredited in the "Drinking Water" matrix using an EPA approved drinking water analysis method.
- Guidance for Collection, Analysis and Reporting of Lead and Copper Samples under the Lead and Copper Rule (QAPP Addendum 2).
- TCEQ NELAP Accredited Laboratories List: Laboratories accredited by the State of Texas under NELAP and the sampling methods they are accredited for.
Water Quality Parameter Sampling
Water quality parameter samples must be analyzed by a laboratory that is NELAP accredited in the "Drinking Water" matrix or a TCEQ approved laboratory using acceptable drinking water sampling methods.
- Acceptable Laboratory Analytical Methods for Water Quality Parameters: This list contains the acceptable laboratory methods for water quality parameters.
- TCEQ NELAP Accredited Laboratories List: Laboratories accredited by the State of Texas under NELAP and the sampling methods they are accredited for.
- Approved Public Water System Drinking Water Labs: Each public water system that analyzes one or more water quality parameters in house is considered to be a laboratory and needs to be approved. To become a PWS Drinking Water Approved Lab submit a copy of your Drinking Water Laboratory Approval Form to the TCEQ WSD Laboratory approval coordinator.
- Please note that Initial and routine WQP samples, including field measurements for pH and temperature, must be collected in the presence of an individual holding a valid water operator's license.
Texas Drinking Water Public Laboratories Maps
TCEQ has developed the following maps to help you locate NELAP accredited public laboratories across the state of Texas that offer lead and copper or water quality parameter testing. Use the maps below to find a laboratory near you and their contact information. Always call laboratories to confirm their address, sample drop off hours, and prices.
- Lead and Copper Tap Testing Laboratories Map
- Water Quality Parameter Testing Laboratories Map
- To find additional laboratory information, view the Texas Drinking Water Public Laboratories Map and the PWS Laboratory Map Table found in the PWSSP webpage.
Action levels for lead and copper are based on a 90th percentile calculation. The action level for lead is 0.015 mg/L and 1.3 mg/L for copper. If a PWS exceeds either of the action levels, it is required to conduct entry point and distribution water quality parameter sampling, entry point lead and copper sampling, and tap water lead and copper sampling. The PWS uses the sample results to submit a source water treatment recommendation, an optimal corrosion control treatment designation, and a corrosion control study. Lead action level exceedances also require delivery and posting of Lead Public Education (LPE).
***For a diagram depicting the timeline of these events, please continue to the Action Level Exceedance (ALE) Highway.
Lead Public Education
- Form 20681a (English), Form 20681a (Spanish): Lead Public Education document for Community
- Form 20681b: Lead Exceedance Public Education - NTNC Businesses
- Form 20681c: Lead Exceedance Public Education - NTNC Schools
Lead Public Education Guidance
- EPA Lead Public Education Implementation - Community
- EPA Lead Public Education Implementation - NTNC
- EPA Lead Public Education Posters
Treatment Recommendations and Certifications after All Action Level Exceedances
- Form 20755: Source Water Treatment Recommendation
- Form 20884: Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Recommendation
- Form 20495: Corrosion Control Study and Treatment Recommendations
- Form 20799: Corrosion Control Treatment Installation Completion Certification
- Form 20853: Optimal WQP Recommendation
Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Resources
- Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Evaluation Technical Recommendations : Technical recommendations that both systems and primacy agencies can use to comply with Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) corrosion control treatment requirements and to evaluate and designate optimal corrosion control treatment (OCCT) more effectively.
Lead and Copper Corrosion Bench-Scale Testing Guidance Manual : Guidance from the Colorado Department of Public Health on using a desktop study to evaluate OCCT. Including situations that necessitate corrosion testing, typical corrosion testing approaches, and processes for conducting a bench-scale immersion test.
Texas Drinking Water Watch holds the information we have for your public water system and is open to the public. Use this database to view sample results, schedules, violations, and public notice due dates.
On December 16, 2021, EPA announced next steps to strengthen the regulatory framework on lead in drinking water. Following the agency’s review of the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) under Executive Order 13990, EPA has concluded that there are significant opportunities to improve the rule to support the overarching goal of proactively removing lead service lines and more equitably protecting public health.
In a Federal Register Notice, EPA announced that the LCRR will go into effect to support near-term development of actions to reduce lead in drinking water. At the same time, EPA will develop a new proposed rulemaking to strengthen key elements of the rule. The agency anticipates finalizing the forthcoming Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) prior to October 16, 2024, the initial compliance date in the LCRR.
CWSs and NTNCs with service lines (public or private) connected to the public water distribution system must complete a comprehensive spreadsheet inventory using form TCEQ-20943.
***For more information, please go to the TCEQ Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) webpage.
TCEQ is offering a free statewide program to help eligible participants conduct voluntary sampling and analysis for lead in drinking water at their schools and childcare facilities.
Helpful Links and Contact Information
TCEQ, Lead and Copper Program
P. O. Box 13087,MC-155
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Phone (512) 239-4691 Fax (512) 239-6050
Lead and Copper Regulations Texas Administrative Code §290.117
TCEQ's Financial, Managerial, and Technical (FMT) Assistance program offers free financial, managerial, and technical assistance to help public water and wastewater systems comply with regulations.