SAWS outlines Project Lead, service-line inventory and customer options under new EPA rules

San Antonio Water System officials told the Municipal Utilities Committee that they are assembling a citywide inventory of water service-line materials and testing noninvasive technologies as part of "Project Lead," the utility's program to comply with revised federal lead-and-copper rules.

The update, delivered by Kirsten Eller, potable water quality supervisor at SAWS, explained the inventory categories, inspection approaches and customer protections under the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule revisions (LCRR) and the subsequent Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI).

The inventory covers the full service line from the water main to the building connection. "In San Antonio, we have split ownership of that service line," Eller said. "From the main to the meter is SAWS' property. Once it passes that meter, it's actually a property owner's." She said the inventory must include four categories: non-lead (copper or plastic), lead, "galvanized requiring replacement," and unknown.

Why it matters: The EPA's recent rule changes require public water systems to document all service-line materials and, over time, remove lines that pose a lead risk. SAWS officials said the work affects residents across the utility's system and will take years of inspection and data collection.

Key facts from SAWS' presentation - Total service lines: 642,000 across SAWS territory (inside and outside city limits). - Share unknown: About 60% of service lines are currently listed as unknown material. - Confirmed historic replacements: SAWS records show over 800 lead lines…