Can Tech Finally Solve America’s Lead Pipe Problem?

A small Texas district embraces non-invasive tech to meet EPA lead rules, signaling a broader shift toward data-driven water oversight

16 Feb 2026

In a quiet corner of Texas, a small water district is taking on a big national problem.

Westwood Shores Municipal Utility District has hired Electro Scan to inspect nearly 400 residential service lines, searching for hidden lead as federal standards tighten. The contract may be modest in size, but it reflects a sweeping change in how utilities across the country are confronting aging infrastructure.

Under the Environmental Protection Agency’s updated Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, every water system must build a detailed inventory of its service lines. Each pipe must be classified as lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or non-lead. Guesswork no longer qualifies.

For decades, utilities leaned on incomplete records, decades-old maps, or disruptive excavation to figure out what lay underground. Now, that approach is giving way to technology that promises faster answers with less disruption.

Electro Scan’s system inspects pipes from the inside, identifying materials without tearing up streets or lawns. The technology distinguishes lead, galvanized steel, copper, and plastic, producing digital records designed to withstand regulatory scrutiny.

“Utilities need verifiable data, not assumptions,” said Chuck Hansen, the company’s chief executive.

That sentiment captures the broader mood across the sector. Compliance is no longer just about filing paperwork. It is about proof.

Billions of dollars in federal infrastructure funding are available to help utilities replace hazardous lines. But access to that money hinges on documented need. Systems must show precisely where lead exists and where it does not. As a result, inspection platforms and data analytics tools are becoming essential equipment, not optional upgrades.

Westwood Shores’ project illustrates how even smaller districts are adapting. Digital mapping, integrated asset systems, and non-invasive testing are steadily becoming part of routine operations. The goal is not simply to meet a deadline, but to build transparency and public trust.

Challenges remain, especially for large metropolitan systems grappling with scale and oversight. Still, momentum is unmistakable. Beneath Texas soil, a technological shift is underway, reshaping how communities understand and safeguard the water flowing into their homes.