Lead & Copper Rule - TIER II PUBLIC NOTICE SUPPLEMENT
Goodfellow Air Force Base –21 August 2025
This notice is required because we missed a deadline from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to install a corrosion control treatment system by a regulatory deadline. The notice uses mandatory warnings required by law for any deadline violation, regardless of actual water quality.
What Happened:
In 2020, routine drinking water sampling at Goodfellow Air Force Base identified lead concentrations above the EPA's Action Level of 0.015 mg/L at three locations. These results occurred primarily in underused or vacant buildings during COVID. The source water for the base is the City of San Angelo which remained fully compliant. However, aging on-base infrastructure, including galvanized metal pipes and lead solder in the plumbing, can contribute to localized lead releases.
These results triggered a compliance requirement driving Goodfellow AFB to implement corrosion control treatment. A corrosion control demonstration study was completed in December 2022 and approved by TCEQ in May 2023, with a treatment installation deadline of May 17, 2025.
Actions Taken Since 2020:
Water Quality Monitoring: From 2020 until 2023, the base conducted quarterly water sampling that showed consistent improvements. In 2023, TCEQ placed the installation on reduced monitoring (once every three years) based on sustained low results. We also implemented a flushing program to proactively identify potential problem areas and reduce water stagnation.
Engineering Study: The base completed a comprehensive corrosion control demonstration study in 2022, evaluating water chemistry, flow characteristics and infrastructure conditions.
Regulatory Engagement: Between 2022 and 2025, Goodfellow engaged closely with TCEQ to evaluate various compliance strategies and ensure the long-term health of the water system.
Funding and Project Development: In summer 2025, $4.4 million was committed to Goodfellow AFB to support distribution system upgrades. This funding came after months of advocating to higher Air Force leadership.
Our Solution - Comprehensive Infrastructure Response:
Recent voluntary testing confirms the importance of our planned infrastructure improvements. Goodfellow AFB is investing $4.4 million over the next 24-months to replace all aging distribution galvanized metal pipes with modern materials. This infrastructure modernization addresses key factors that contribute to lead leaching. There are no known lead pipes in our water system.
This distribution system upgrade addresses system-wide infrastructure factors, while individual buildings may have additional considerations related to internal plumbing and fixtures.
We are working with regulators to implement our long-term solution while conducting thorough investigation of recent results. Since 2022, we have been working through the complex chemical treatment regulatory process, including completion of demonstration studies and extensive regulatory coordination. We are now accelerating our timeline for infrastructure improvements.
Current Water Safety:
While most of our water system continues to perform well, we are taking a comprehensive approach to ensure the safety of our base populace. This includes conducting additional testing, investigating building specific infrastructure, accelerated infrastructure replacement planning, coordination with health officials and regulators, and enhanced monitoring protocols.
About the Attached Public Notice:
The attached notice (below) contains mandatory language required by EPA and TCEQ. We are not authorized to change any of the wording, even if local risk is low or active mitigation is occurring. These notices are standardized across all systems to ensure transparency and public awareness.
Point of Contact:
17th Training Wing Public Affairs
Email: 17TRW.PA2@us.af.mil
Community Meeting: Monday, August 24, 2025, 5 pm at the Powell Event Center
LEAD & COPPER RULE CORROSION CONTROL MANDATORY LANGUAGE - TIER II
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Goodfellow Air Force Base Water Contains High Levels of Lead and/or Copper
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sets minimum water quality standards for public drinking water. Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Even though this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are doing) to correct this situation.
The list below has the corrosion control treatment actions which we did not complete, or properly complete, within the required time allowed by drinking water regulations.
• Failed to install and/or operate corrosion control treatment and submit certification of installation and operation.
What should I do?
Listed below are some steps you can take to reduce your exposure to lead and/or copper:
• Call us at the number below to find out how to get your water tested for lead and copper.
• Find out whether your pipes contain lead, lead solder, or copper.
• Run your water for 15-30 seconds or until it becomes cold before using it for drinking or cooking. This flushes any standing lead and copper from the pipes.
• Don’t cook with or drink water from the hot water tap; lead and copper dissolves more easily into hot water.
• Do not boil your water to remove lead and copper. Excessive boiling water makes the lead and copper more concentrated – the lead and copper remains when the water evaporates.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours. Typically, lead and copper enters water supplies by leaching from lead, copper or brass pipes and plumbing components. New lead pipes and plumbing components containing lead are no longer allowed for this reason. However, many older homes may contain lead pipes. Your water is more likely to contain high lead levels if water pipes in/or leading to your home are made of lead or contain lead solder.
*Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure
Children and adults who drink water containing copper in excess could experience stomach and intestinal distress as well as liver and/or kidney damage.*
Copper Health Effects
Short term exposure: Gastrointestinal distress,Long term exposure: Liver or kidney damage, People with Wilson's Disease should consult their personal doctor if the amount of copper in their water exceeds the action level
What is being done?
Our primary corrective action involves replacing aging and galvanized infrastructure with modern pipe materials through a $4.4 million, 24-month replacement program that addresses the root cause of potential lead leaching. Additionally, we are working on corrosion control treatment installation as a secondary compliance measure.
Corrosion control, and necessary components, will be in place at a date still to be determined.
For more information, please contact Goodfellow Air Force Base at 325-654-3876 or 17TRW.PA2@us.af.mil.
*Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.*
This notice is being sent to you by Goodfellow Air Force Base. State Water System ID#: _TX 2260027_.
Date distributed: August 21, 2025