10-30-2025 11:17pm

City of Paris Continues Phase Two of Water Service Line Inspections

Dustin Terry Editor

City of Paris Continues Phase Two of Water Service Line Inspections

The City of Paris is moving forward with phase two of its water service line inventory, part of a nationwide Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiative designed to improve the safety of public drinking water systems.

Under the EPA’s mandate, all water suppliers must complete an inventory within three years to identify the materials used in their service lines — the pipes that connect water mains to meters and then to homes and businesses. The city maintains ownership of the line between the water main and the meter, while property owners are responsible for the connection from the meter to their structures.

During phase one, the city identified approximately 9,200 service lines where the material type could not be confirmed. In this second phase, the Public Works Department is conducting systematic inspections to determine the materials in those connections.

As part of this process, the city will soon mail letters to customers whose service line materials are still classified as “unknown.”

“If you receive a letter, it simply means that your service line material hasn’t yet been identified and will be scheduled for inspection,” said Director of Utilities Danny Rowell. “Our water remains safe, and our system continues to hold a superior rating from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).”

A dedicated inspection crew is currently examining each unidentified connection.

“Our typical process is to open the water meter box, remove any dirt or debris, and inspect both sides of the meter,” explained Public Works Director Michael Smith. “So far, we haven’t found any active connections containing lead or galvanized steel.”

If inspectors discover a service line that requires replacement, the city will file a Texas811 request to mark underground utilities before replacing the city-owned portion of the line.
Property owners, however, are responsible for replacing any defective connections from the meter to their home or business.

The EPA initiative aims to ensure that all communities, including Paris, maintain safe and reliable drinking water systems through transparency and proactive maintenance.