Port Arthur approved for state funding to inventory and replace lead service lines under EPA rule

Port Arthur city officials heard a technical briefing Monday about the federal Lead and Copper Rule Revision and what it means for city water customers. EJES Incorporated told the council the state has approved Port Arthur for an award to begin the required service‑line inventory and to plan for later replacement work.

EJES Incorporated representative (presenting) said the Environmental Protection Agency’s LCRR requires water utilities to inventory service lines from the distribution main to each home and, in many cases, to replace any lead or lead‑containing service lines that are found. The firm told the council Port Arthur already filed the required initial paperwork with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and that a state award of approximately $4,000,806 has been allocated to the city.

The firm and city staff described the program as two phases: a mandatory inventory (phase one) and a separate construction phase (phase two) to actually replace lines. EJES said roughly 14,000–15,000 service connections may need inspection for the inventory. The consultant also told council that for the award Port Arthur received, about 51% of the state allocation is forgivable; the remainder would be offered as a 0% interest loan repayable over 25–30 years if the city chooses to use the loan component.

Council members asked how the inventory will be performed, whether homeowners will be required to allow access, and how private‑side plumbing will be handled. EJES said the city’s responsibility under the LCRR extends from the public main to the outside of the house (to the meter box), not to plumbing inside the home. The consultant said the program requires documentation of homeowners who refuse work; if a homeowner declines replacement work the city must obtain a signed refusal and keep records so regulators understand the status of each service line.

Several council members and residents pressed staff for clarity about timing, the sequence for higher‑priority locations such as schools and daycares, and how yards will be restored after excavation. EJES said the federal/state rule requires the inventory and that outreach will precede field work; the firm also described a “replace in kind or better” approach to restoring landscaping and surface material after replacement, and said local hires and pre‑training could help delivery and community employment.

Why it matters: the LCRR extends utility responsibility to the meter box and forces a comprehensive inventory of service lines. In many jurisdictions, replacement and remediation work is expensive; state funding that mixes forgiveness and loans is aimed at limiting the cost burden for households and municipalities.

What’s next: EJES and city staff said Port Arthur met the October 2024 initial deadline and that inventory work has begun in places. The firm encouraged residents to cooperate with inspectors and to look for city outreach and scheduling notices. The city manager said staff will continue to update council as the inventory and grant draw‑down processes proceed.