State guide
Texas
Texas divides lead-service-line oversight between the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for drinking-water compliance and the Texas Water Development Board for replacement funding. Utility pages in major cities commonly place homeowner responsibility at the meter or property line, but local permitting rules vary by city.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- Who usually owns the water service line
- Usually yes in large Texas cities. Dallas and San Antonio describe homeowner responsibility beginning at or after the meter, while Austin separately says owners install yard lines between the property line and building.
- State drinking water program
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- State lead service line page
- Official page →
- Permits for repair or replacement
- Texas law allows homeowners to do plumbing work on their own homestead subject to municipal requirements, and Austin publishes a Plumbing Service Line permit plus right-of-way permit requirements for service connection work.
- Assistance programs
- Texas’s TWDB LSLR program can fund complete replacement of lead service lines on both public and privately owned portions; SAWS also offers leak-bill adjustment review for eligible repaired leaks.
Official resources in Texas
TCEQ Public Drinking Water
Texas drinking water program homepage with lead-and-copper and consumer resources.
TCEQ Lead and Copper Rule Revisions and Improvements
Official Texas lead service line inventory and replacement compliance page.
TWDB DWSRF Lead Service Line Replacement Program
State funding page for lead service line identification and full replacement, including private portions.
Key facts for Texas
- TCEQ says all community and non-transient non-community public water systems had to comply with the LCRR beginning October 16, 2024.
- TCEQ says lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown-line customers must be notified within 30 days of inventory submission.
- TWDB says eligible projects include complete removal of lead service lines on both public and privately owned portions.
- Dallas Water Utilities says the utility maintains the public side and meter, while the property owner maintains the private side from the meter.
- Austin Water says property owners install yard lines between the property line and the building they serve.
- SAWS says plumbing problems on private property are generally the owner’s responsibility, while water main or sewer line leaks should be reported immediately.
Utility water service line rules in Texas
| Utility | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCEQ Lead and Copper Rule Revisions Team Travis | Austin | (512) 239-1061 | State contact for Texas lead service line inventory and replacement compliance questions. |
| Austin Water Travis | Austin | 512-972-1000 | Austin Water contact for service issues and utility permitting referrals. |
| Austin Water Utility Permitting Office Travis | Austin | 512-972-1000, option 3 | Helps residents, contractors, and developers with water and wastewater permitting, meter installation, and tap connections. |
| Austin Development Services Travis | Austin | 512-978-4000 3-1-1 | City permitting office for development, trade permits, inspections, and code compliance. |
| Dallas Water Customer Service Dallas | Dallas | 214-651-1441 | Handles billing, new service, and account matters; Dallas also states private-side responsibility begins at the meter. |
| DWU Permit Section Dallas | Dallas | 214-948-4480, option 4 | Handles water and sewer service permits and water or sewer main availability questions. |
| San Antonio Water System Bexar | San Antonio | 210-704-SAWS (704-7297) | 24-hour water and sewer emergency contact; SAWS says private-property plumbing problems are usually the owner’s responsibility. |
| SAWS Uplift Bexar | San Antonio | 210-233-CARE (2273) | SAWS assistance portal for qualifying customers with water bill affordability needs. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Ask your city utility exactly where responsibility changes on your property; Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio describe that point differently.
- If work touches private service lines in Austin or another large city, check local permit requirements before excavation.
- If your utility identifies lead or unknown material, ask whether it can use TWDB-backed lead replacement funding for the full public and private line.
Not seeing your utility or county?
We list a utility only when an official government page publishes its rules. If yours isn't in the table above, it may not publish them online yet. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Texas, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Texas's population center, for comparison only):
- City of Shreveport Department of Water and Sewerage, Louisiana · about 232 miles
- City of Shreveport Water Service Ordinance Materials, Louisiana · about 232 miles
- City of Norman Utility Customer Service Division, Oklahoma · about 298 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.TCEQ Public Drinking Water
Website →Phone: (888) 777-3186 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Texas page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- Who is responsible for the water line to your house?
- The curb stop, meter and property line, explained
- Water line leak in your yard: what to do
- Water service line replacement costs
Water line responsibility check →
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