Posting Language
Title
Approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to file an application with the Texas Water Development Board for a low-interest loan in the amount not to exceed $6,000,000 from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Replacement Program for Austin Water's Galvanized Water Service Line Replacement Program. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. The additional funding needed for this program is contingent upon available funding in future Austin Water budgets.
De
Lead Department
Austin Water.
Fiscal Note
This item has no fiscal impact. The additional funding needed for this program is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
For More Information:
Vicky Addie, Austin Water Program Coordinator, 512-972-0332 or vicky.addie@austintexas.gov <mailto:vicky.addie@austintexas.gov>.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
April 15, 2026- To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission.
Additional Backup Information:
This action will authorize Austin Water to apply for a low-interest loan in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000 from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for the construction phases of Austin Water's Galvanized Water Service Line Replacement Program (Program).
TWDB administers low-interest loans through the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Replacement program to provide low-cost financial assistance for the identification, planning, design, and replacement of service line materials required to comply with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. This program offers a below-market fixed interest rate, which will save Austin Water customers from higher financing costs compared to traditional revenue bond financing.
Lead has not been permitted in public pipeline infrastructure since the 1950’s and Austin Water has removed pre-existing lead lines during normal maintenance activity and water line rehabilitation projects since the 1960’s. In 2016, Austin Water began a comprehensive record review and material inventory of all public water service lines, including public and private side indicators, in compliance with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.
In 2024, Austin Water completed investigations of all drinking water service lines in its system. This work included reviewing records such as plumbing codes, City ordinances, property development dates, and utility workorder files, as well as completing over 52,000 field inspections at meter boxes. Austin Water has no known lead water service lines in its inventory.
In addition to lead, EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) requires the replacement of any galvanized drinking water service line that is, was, or may have been downstream of lead pipe. These galvanized pipes could have absorbed lead if they were ever downstream of lead pipe.
Austin Water has identified approximately 770 water service lines in its inventory as “galvanized requiring replacement” (GRR) because they have galvanized iron or steel pipe between the meter and the building, and the history of pipe upstream is unclear. The 770 GRR service lines occur throughout the City, in every Council District, with the exception of District 6. Austin Water has notified property owners with GRR lines of their service line status and notices will be sent annually until all GRR lines are replaced. Property owners may replace their service lines and request reimbursement of eligible expenses from Austin Water, or they may sign up for replacement through the Program. This Program is currently underway and aims to replace all GRR service lines from the meter to five feet from where the line enters the building. These will be completed over the course of the next five to ten years, as the LCRI requires full replacement by December 30, 2037.