USEFUL INFORMATION

LEAD PIPES

Lead comes from a variety of sources and may be present in air, food, soil or water. However, it can
build up in the body and it can be harmful, especially to young children.

There is no lead in water when it leaves the water treatment works. However lead can be picked
up by the water if the service pipe (the pipe connecting your property to the main in the street),
is made of lead. Lead can also be picked up from any internal lead pipework and lead-based
soldered pipe joints inside your home. It is important therefore to use a professionally qualified
plumber to avoid any new pipework being connected with the wrong type of solder. (Lead solder
can however still be used for closed circuit central heating systems).

Water companies regularly take random tap water samples to ensure the water supplied meets the
high quality required by law. If the lead standard is exceeded in a statutory water sample taken
from your property then the water company will replace any lead pipework in their part of the
service pipe, free of charge, and advise you that it has done so. It will also recommend that the
homeowner replaces their external and internal lead pipework.

The part of the service pipe within the boundary of the property is the property owner’s
responsibility, so it is down to the homeowner to replace this along with any lead pipework inside
the property.

FAQ: How do I know if there are lead pipes in my home?

If your home was built before 1970 it may have lead pipes. If it was built after 1970 it is unlikely to
have lead pipes.
If your home has been modernised since 1970 and all of its pipework has been replaced from the
water company’s stop tap outside your home to the kitchen tap, there should be no lead pipe on
your property.
If you are unsure, you can make a simple check:
Look in or behind the cupboards in your kitchen. You may also need to look in other places, e.g.
the cupboard under the stairs. Find the pipe leading to the kitchen tap. Check along as much of its
length as possible to see if it is made of lead. Unpainted lead pipes are dull grey in colour. They are
also soft. If you scrape the surface gently with a knife, you will see the shiny, silver-coloured metal
beneath.
If in doubt, ask a professionally qualified plumber or your local water company or local authority for
advice. You can also ask your water company to test the water at your kitchen tap, as there may
not be a problem, even if there are lead pipes in your property.

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