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EAGLE LAKE – Some residents of Eagle Lake have expressed concerns over a city notice to replace their lead, copper and galvanized pipe in their homes’ private service lines. City officials addressed some of these concerns, answered questions and proposed solutions to some of the issues addressed at a town hall meeting in early June.
The city mailed out notices alerting residents marked with having copper, lead or galvanized water pipelines would need to be replaced, largely at the expense and/or labor of the homeowner. The letters were sent in response to federal legislation signed in 2021 that intends to remove and replace 100% of lead pipes as well as other non-ideal materials. A campaign to improve drinking water quality and removing lead content has been the main target of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Lead and Copper Rule in Texas.
The LCR required public entities to research and mark residential water service lines that currently have pipes that are no longer supported as quality water pipelines. After the inventory has taken place, the public entity must send its findings to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality along with a replacement plan by Oct. 16 of this year. At that time, homes needing a replacement will be on a publicly accessible record in Eagle Lake.
As it stands, around 500 residences have been marked as potentially needing water line replacements, with several more being marked as unknown.
In a presentation by LJA Engineering Consultant Dyer Schlitzkus, it was explained to the residents in attendance that due to a potential lack of materials available, lack of manpower and lack of federal resources, waiting to replace the service lines would potentially lead to a snowball effect that could impair their ability to complete the plan by the 2027 deadline. A proposed adjustment to the LCR, referred to as the LCRI, would increase the public education and notification regarding lead levels in the water, citing that “there are no safe levels of lead” in water supplies according to the EPA website.
Those with unknown service line materials are being asked to dig to the pipeline to report the material themselves for the inventory due by Oct. 16.
Many residents expressed their concerns over various topics related to the proposed projects. The cost and labor of these projects was a major concern, as many residents cited their inability to afford a project of that nature so suddenly. In a similar note, the timeline was also a concern as the city has expressed a desire for the residents to begin their line replacement as soon as possible. Residents also brought up the lack of federal mandate for the city to replace main lines as well as a desire for the city to request federal dollars to achieve these projects.
In regard to the cost, the city reminded residents that homeowners have the right to replace the line themselves, or at least dig the trench a service would use to access the pipelines and replace them. For those who would not be able to do their own labor and cannot afford a service, the city discussed the potential of outreach and volunteer groups donating their time to help with the trench digging. Pipelines can be replaced only by the homeowners or a licensed plumber.
Those doing their own labor will need to dig a trench from the water meter at the street to where the pipes enter the home. Pipes underneath the home are not currently under a federal mandate.
In terms of the timeline, the city implored residents who can afford to replace their lines as a failure to replace a majority of the service lines could result in a maximum of $750,000 cost to the city that will be reflected in water taxes if not done by the 2027 deadline. A plan for replacement is the first requirement, while the actual work can allow some time for saving and preparation. Time is of the essence, however, and those capable of doing the replacements now are urged to do so according to City Manager Charles “Tink” Jackson and other city officials.
“If you can afford it, do it,” Mayor Tim Kelley said.
Schlitzkus addressed the lack of federal funding for these projects, as grant funds available dropped from $124 million to just $25 million for Texas municipalities. He also expressed a hope that future mandates would include requirements for municipal pipelines as well, not just residential service lines. All new municipal piping is made of the PVC pipe material recommended by the EPA.
Those with further questions are urged to contact City Hall at 979234-2640 for more information. The city also plans on having a Q&A section on the website that they will add to as more questions are submitted.
