Harris County, TX · PWSID TX1010013
City of Houston lead service lines
427,111 lines still unidentified
City of Houston reported no confirmed lead service lines, but 427,111 of 508,198 lines (84%) are still listed as "lead status unknown." Until a line is identified, treat it as possibly lead.
0% of City of Houston's service lines are lead or galvanized requiring replacement. That's lower than the Texas average (1.2%) and lower than the national average (3.1%).
- Lead 0%
- Galvanized (replace) 0%
- Unknown 84%
- Non-lead 16%
Total service lines reported: 508,198. Reported all required service line types. Population served: 2,970,543; 990,181 connections.
Lead test results
City of Houston's most recent 90th-percentile lead result (Jan 2024–Jun 2024) was 5 ppb, below both the 15 ppb action level and the 10 ppb level that takes effect in 2027. This means 90% of homes sampled were at or below that level; individual homes, especially those with lead lines, can be higher.
Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported to EPA, in parts per billion. Dashed lines: 15 ppb action level and the 10 ppb level from November 1, 2027.
Progress since 2025 Q1
Reported lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines went from 0 in 2025 Q1 to 0 in 2026 Q3: no change. Lines of unknown material went from 427,111 to 427,111, no change.
Quarterly counts reported to EPA. A drop usually means lines were replaced or confirmed non-lead; a rise usually means more lines were identified. Replacement progress rankings.
Lead rule violations
EPA's data lists 1 Lead and Copper Rule violation since 2015 for City of Houston. Health-based violations are treatment failures, such as corrosion control or public education; the rest are missed monitoring or reporting.
| Began | Violation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2015 | Missed follow-up or routine lead and copper tap sampling | Returned to compliance |
Source: EPA SDWIS violation records for the Lead and Copper Rule.
Where the water comes from
City of Houston's main water source is surface water (rivers, lakes or reservoirs). It buys treated water from Pine Trails Utility. The seller treats the water, including corrosion control that keeps lead from dissolving out of pipes, while City of Houston is responsible for its own service line inventory and replacement program. It sells water to 82 other water systems, including City of Pearland, City of Friendswood, City of League City, City of Bellaire, City of Deer Park, City of Galena Park, City of Humble, City of Jacinto City, City of Jersey Village, City of la Porte, Sunbelt FWSD Oakwilde Subdivision, City of Southside Place, City of West University Place, Clear Lake City Water Authority, City of Morgans Point, City of Bunker Hill Village, Sunbelt FWSD Northline Terrace, Memorial Villages Water Authority, Sequoia Improvement District, City of Spring Valley Village, City of Webster, Harris County WCID Fondren Road, Sunbelt FWSD High Meadows Subdivision, City of Pasadena, City of South Houston, North Green MUD, Rolling Fork PUD, Sagemeadow Utility District, Clear Brook City MUD, Sunbelt FWSD Heather Glen Subdivision.
Source: EPA SDWIS water system and facility records.
Check your own address
These counts cover the whole system. To see whether your line is lead, use the utility's address-level inventory. Utilities had to prepare one by October 16, 2024 and make it publicly accessible; systems serving more than 50,000 people must post it online.
No map yet? Do the 2-minute scratch and magnet test on the pipe where water enters your home.
Protect your drinking water now
If your line is lead, galvanized or unknown, filter water for drinking, cooking and baby formula. Use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead. Run cold water for a few minutes after it sits for hours, and never use hot tap water for cooking.
How to pick a lead-certified filter · How to test your water for lead
Getting the line replaced
EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements require most systems to replace lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines by December 31, 2037. Ask City of Houston whether it replaces the private side for free or with a cost share before you hire anyone. If you want it done sooner, or your utility doesn't cover your side, a licensed plumber can quote it. What replacement costs.
County pages: Lead pipes in Harris County
Cities served
ZIP codes served
ZIP codes whose center falls inside City of Houston's mapped service area (EPA service area boundaries). Neighboring utilities may serve parts of the same ZIP.
770027700377004770067700777008770097701077011770127701377016770177701877019770207702177022770237702577026770277702877029770307703177032770337703477035770367704277043770457704677047770487705177053770547705577056770577705877060770617706277063770717707277074770757707677077770787707977080770817708277084
Other water systems nearby
| System | Lead + galv. | Unknown |
|---|---|---|
| City of Deer Park | 215 | 4,263 |
| City of South Houston | 1,554 | 2,865 |
| City of Humble | 298 | 1 |
| Harris County WCID 36 | 890 | 6 |
| City of Jacinto City | 589 | 0 |
| Harris County WCID 1 | 826 | 0 |
| Sunbelt FWSD Oakwilde Subdivision | 331 | 0 |
| City of Spring Valley Village | 193 | 656 |
Check another water system
Questions
Does City of Houston have lead pipes?
It hasn't confirmed any, but 427,111 of its 508,198 service lines are still of unknown material, so lead has not been ruled out.
How do I check if my home's service line is lead?
Look up your address on City of Houston's official service line inventory, which utilities must make publicly available. You can also scratch the pipe where it enters your home: lead is soft, dull gray, scratches to shiny silver and does not attract a magnet.
When will City of Houston replace lead service lines?
Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, most systems must replace lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines by December 31, 2037, starting from November 1, 2027. The rule is being challenged in court, so dates could change. Many utilities run free or cost-share programs now.
Has City of Houston had lead violations?
EPA's data shows 1 Lead and Copper Rule violation since 2015 for City of Houston.
Which water filters remove lead?
Use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction, or NSF/ANSI 58 for reverse osmosis. Check the certification on NSF's listings, not just the box.
Embed or cite this data
Local news sites, blogs and community groups can embed this card. It updates when EPA releases new data.
Citation: Lead Pipe Map, "City of Houston lead service lines," https://leadpipemap.com/tx/city-of-houston/. Source: EPA SDWIS service line inventory, 2026 Q3. Download the full dataset on the data page.