Is My Tap Water Safe to Drink? Dallas Homeowner FAQs

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, you probably got a letter about lead in public water supply lines from the water company. Don’t worry! Yes, your tap water is safe to drink.

But that doesn’t mean that local tap water is free of contaminants — and there hundreds of thousands of untested pipes in Dallas and Fort Worth that might contain lead or old galvanized steel (which can also be dangerous to public health).

In this article, we’ll answer the 10 questions Dallas-Fort Worth homeowners ask our plumbers about lead and water safety. We’ll also tell you why whole house water filtration systems are the best options for DFW residents who want premium water quality at a reasonable price.

There’s a lot of information local residents need to know about lead pipes in Dallas County and Tarrant County:

• Your public water pipes are safe…ish. Over 115,000 pipes in Dallas remain untested, and many pipes in Fort Worth are marked as “galvanized requiring replacement”.
• Lead pipes are bad, but so are old galvanized pipes. These pipes accumulate lead from other sources and can send it through your drinking water — even long after the original lead pipes are removed from the supply line.
• Self-testing for lead pipes is difficult. Dallas Water Utilities suggests DIY testing for pipe materials at home, but these tests are often inconclusive or hard to judge.
• Yes, your local tap water is okay to drink. But there are ways to improve drinking water quality in DFW — reduce lead, heavy metals and pesticides with a whole house water filter.
• Protect your home with a whole house water filtration system. These systems generally cost $5,000-$6,000 — 80-85% less than whole home pipe replacement.

Talk to us about DFW home water filter installation!

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“Is My Tap Water Safe to Drink?” Why DFW Residents Are Worried About Water Quality

Many Dallas-Fort Worth customers received letters from their local water utility providers regarding the presence of lead in their drinking water. Not surprisingly, we started getting a lot of phone calls about this letter.

There are many concerning phrases in these letters: “health effects of lead” and “reduce your exposure to lead” don’t inspire confidence.

It’s important to note: These letters were sent in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. This letter does not mean there are lead pipes in your neighborhood, or that your family is exposed to lead in tap water.

If your letter is marked “unknown” or “untested”, there is some cause for concern. These designations mean your water supply line has not been tested for lead at this time.

If your letter is marked “galvanized requiring replacement”, consider a water filtration system for your home. Older galvanized steel lines can accumulate lead that’s leached from other sources.

Lead in Tap Water FAQ: 10 Questions DFW Customers Ask Most

Here are the top 10 questions our DFW plumbing customers ask about tap water quality and lead testing — and our expert answers.

Is tap water in Dallas safe to drink?

Yes, Dallas water is safe to drink. The public water system is thoroughly tested and treated to meet safety standards. 

The City of Dallas sent out a recent notice which stated they did not know whether there was lead in the water supply lines coming from the city. — but their water treatment practices meet regulatory standards.

Is tap water in Fort Worth safe to drink?

Yes, Fort Worth water is safe to drink. The public water system is thoroughly tested and treated to meet safety standards.

How many public water lines are tested for lead where I live?

As of November 2024, the City of Dallas has tested just under 65% of its public water lines for lead and galvanized steel. Nearly 115,000 public supply pipes remain unchecked.

As of November 2024, the City of Fort Worth has tested most of its public lines for lead and galvanized steel. While there is no public indication of lead in the supply lines, a large number of tested pipes are marked as galvanized requiring replacement.

How do I know if I have lead pipes?

It’s actually quite hard to tell if you have lead pipes. You can test each faucet, but a plumber will be able to test at the meter to see if you have lead coming in from the city or not. 

The City of Dallas and Fort Worth have published Service Line Inventory Maps that chart every water supply line in the Metroplex. All pipes are designated and color-coded under several designations, including:

• Non lead
• Lead
• Galvanized requiring replacement
• Untested

You can view the Dallas Service Line Inventory Map and the Fort Worth Service Line Inventory Map online.

What does “galvanized requiring replacement” mean?

Pipes labeled “galvanized requiring replacement” are old pipes made of galvanized steel. This material is shown to allow high levels of lead accumulation over time. While there is no lead in the pipe material, these galvanized pipes act as “storage” for lead that leached from other pipes.

Dallas and Fort Worth have labeled all public water supply lines made from galvanized steel as requiring replacement. Over time, these galvanized lines can still deliver lead through your city water — even if all surrounding lead pipes are removed.

How do I get free lead in water testing in Dallas or Fort Worth?

Dallas homeowners can request a free lead test by calling 311.

Fort Worth homeowners are eligible for a free lead water test if their service line is designated as lead or galvanized requiring replacement. If the line is designated as non lead, each faucet water sample costs $25.

When did DFW plumbers stop installing lead pipes?

Lead pipes were pretty much done being installed by the 1980s. It’s pretty rare to find lead in a customer’s water lines now — sewer pipes are a bigger issue. If there are lead supply lines, they’re usually out in your yard or on the city-side of the water. 

Is it safe to live in a house with lead pipes?

You can live in a house with lead pipes — but without water filtration, it’s a big risk. You’re constantly showering and drinking water in your day-to-day life, and it’s not worth taking chances with lead exposure. 

What to do if your house has lead pipes?

If your home has lead pipes, it’s important to have them replaced.

There are many potential issues with consuming water that passes through lead pipes. You can also install filters at each of the faucets, but you’re still showering, so we recommend testing and isolating the water.

Do water purifiers get rid of lead?

Yes, water purifiers can remove lead, but only at the specific fixture they’re installed on. They won’t filter the water for the rest of the house. For that you need a whole-home solution 

Not all water purifiers will eliminate other harmful water contaminants like hard minerals, VOCs or pesticides. Refer to the manufacturer’s information on every water purifier product.

Health Risks Associated With Lead and Hard Minerals

Studies from the EPA and NIH show that lead in drinking water directly contribute to major health concerns in children, adults and pregnant women:

• In children: ADHD, slowed cognitive development, hearing problems
• In adults: kidney malfunction, reproductive issues, anemia and neurological damage
• In pregnant women: low birth weight and premature birth

Recent EPA modeling suggests that lead concentrations in the 3.8 to 15 ppb range put a formula-fed baby at risk of elevated blood lead levels

Hard water caused by calcium and magnesium creates its own set of problems. Dallas and Tarrant County have some of the hardest water in America — this leads to multiple issues with your pipes, appliances and personal health risk:

• Scale buildup in pipes
• Decreased efficiency of water using appliances
• Less effective dishwasher and laundry cleaning
• Dry skin and eczema issues
• Dry and brittle hair

Protect your family with a whole house water filtration system

A whole house water filtration system is a piece of equipment that filters water at the first branch of the water supply line coming into the home. This way it filters all of the water used by the entire house. 

Home filtration systems remove contaminants before water even reaches your taps and faucets. Your sinks, tubs, showers, dishwasher and washing machine receive pre-filtered water for use.

Our expert plumbers rigorously test and inspect these devices before installing them in your homes. We select whole house water filters that remove 7 key hazardous materials from your home’s tap and drinking water:

1. Lead
2. Heavy metals
3. Hard minerals
4. Pesticides
5. Herbicides
6. VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
7. PFOA

Whole home water filtration costs 85% less than pipe replacement

The average cost of a whole house water filtration system can range from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on the type of system you choose and the current layout of your water lines. 

Most Dallas-Fort Worth homeowners pay $5,000-$6,000 for whole house water filter installation, if there’s not extensive water line work that needs to be done. 

Compare this to the average cost of whole home repiping or pipe replacement, which is $40,000+ for medium to large-sized homes in Dallas County and Tarrant County.

Your Tap Water is Safe to Drink — Keep It That Way!

Dallas and Fort Worth deliver safe drinking water to homeowners. However, this tap water isn’t guaranteed to be 100% lead-free. 

Plus, Dallas and Tarrant County have some of the hardest water in America thanks to heavy limestone deposits. Hard water scaling wreaks havoc on your pipes and appliances (and it’s not great to bathe in, either).

Don’t rely on a DIY lead pipe test or inconclusive data from the city. Protect your home’s tap water with a whole house water filtration system — it costs 85% less than repiping your house, and guarantees clean water for years.

Healthy family, clear pipes, efficient appliances — what’s not to love?

Ask us about whole house water filtration in Dallas-Fort Worth!

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