Lead Service Lines at West Travis County Public Utility Agency

West Travis County Public Utility Agency serves 35,664 people across Texas. Like all US water systems, the agency is required to identify and track lead service lines—the pipes that may connect your home to the public water main.

What you need to know

A lead service line is a pipe made of lead or containing lead solder that carries water from the public main into your home. Lead can leach into drinking water, especially in homes with acidic water or stagnant pipes (like overnight or during vacations).

Current status: As of now, West Travis County Public Utility Agency has not completed a full inventory of lead service lines in its service area. The agency may still be in the early stages of mapping, surveying property records, or field-testing pipes. This is typical—many water systems across the country are still working through their inventories.

What this means for your home

If you live in the West Travis County Public Utility Agency service area and your home was built before 1986, there's a higher statistical chance your service line contains lead, though it's not certain. Even if your line is lead, your water risk depends on factors like whether the water is treated to reduce corrosion and how long water sits in your pipes.

The best way to know your home's status is to contact West Travis County Public Utility Agency directly and ask whether they have records for your property. You can also request a water test through your local health department or a certified lab—a test costs $15–30 and shows whether lead is actually present in your tap water.

If you're concerned about lead in your water

• Use only cold tap water for drinking and cooking (hot water leaches lead faster).
• Let water run for 30 seconds to 2 minutes if it hasn't been used for several hours.
• If you're pregnant or have young children, talk to your pediatrician or contact the CDC's hotline.

Next steps for residents

• Contact the utility. Call West Travis County Public Utility Agency and ask about your service line status and whether they have a replacement program.
• Request a water test. Your local health department or a certified private lab can test your tap water for lead at low cost.
• Check your meter location. If you know where your water meter is (usually at the property line or in a basement), you can sometimes spot lead pipes—they're soft, dark gray, and easy to scratch with a coin.
• Ask about assistance programs. Some states offer low-interest loans or grants for lead line replacement; your utility can tell you what's available locally.

Does West Travis County Public Utility Agency have lead service lines?

West Travis County Public Utility Agency has not yet completed a full inventory of lead service lines. Homes built before 1986 in the service area are statistically more likely to have lead lines, but the only way to know your home's status is to contact the utility or request a water test.

How do I know if my house has a lead service line?

Contact West Travis County Public Utility Agency to ask if they have records for your property. You can also visually inspect the pipe where it enters your home (lead is soft, dark gray, and scratches easily with a coin) or request a professional plumber's assessment.

Is lead service line water safe to drink?

It depends. A lead service line doesn't always mean lead in your water—it depends on water treatment, acidity, and how long water sits in the pipe. A water test ($15–30) from your health department or a certified lab is the only way to know for sure.

How much does it cost to replace a lead service line?

Replacement costs vary widely ($1,500–$25,000+) depending on pipe location, soil type, and local labor costs. Ask your utility about local replacement programs, low-interest loans, or grants that may help cover the cost.