You may have lead in your drinking water. - Advice for owners of property built before 1970.
Your water supply
Houses built before 1970, often used water pipes manufactured from lead to connect the water main in the street to the kitchen tap.
If your house was built before 1970 and you have never had your pipework replaced, there is a good chance that you may have lead pipes in your home.
Lead is a very harmful substance, a cumulative poison, which through prolonged and repeated exposure, can build up in the body and cause damage.
The severity of the effects of lead poisoning varies depending on the concentration of lead in the body. Young children and infants are especially vulnerable as they absorb lead more easily than adults.
Lead does not noticeably alter the taste, colour or smell of water and the effects of low levels of lead toxicity in humans may not be obvious. There may be no symptoms present or symptoms may be mistaken as flu or other illnesses.
If you have lead pipes in your home or if the pipes connecting your home to the water main in the street are made of lead, there is a risk of lead contamination in your water supply.
A simple check
If you are unsure whether your property has lead pipes, you can undertake a simple check.
Find the pipe running to the kitchen tap and check along its length to see whether it is lead. Unpainted lead pipes are dull grey, but if scraped gently with a knife or coin, they will reveal a bright silvercoloured metal underneath.
If you find that you have lead pipes or would like a second opinion you have a number of different options available to you opposite.
A serious concern
It is estimated that around 40% of homes in the UK still have lead water supply pipes. Although lead poisoning in the UK is now rare, even small quantities of lead can be a serious health concern.
In Britain the current limit for lead is 25 microgrammes per litre. However, revisions to drinking water regulations mean that by the end of 2013 the new limit will be 10 microgrammes per litre. If you are concerned that you have lead supply pipes, contact us today.
Your options
OPTION 1. CONTACT US ON 0800 444 456 AND WE’LL ARRANGE FOR ONE OF OUR APPROVED PLUMBERS TO VISIT YOUR PROPERTY AND TEST IF YOU HAVE LEAD PIPES. THIS SERVICE COSTS £49.99 AND TAKES APPROXIMATELY 30MINS. THIS COST IS REFUNDABLE IF YOU SUBSEQUENTLY USE ONE OF OUR APPROVED PLUMBERS TO CARRY OUT ANY PIPE REPLACEMENT WORK.
OPTION 2. RUN THE COLD-WATER TAP FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE USE, (ESPECIALLY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING), TO DRAW FRESH WATER FROM THE MAINS. THIS WILL FLUSH THE PIPE AND REDUCE THE CONCENTRATION OF LEAD IN THE DRINKING WATER.
OPTION 3. UNDERTAKE A WATER CONTAMINATION TEST. CONTACT US ON 0800 123456 AND WE WILL VISIT YOUR PROPERTY AND TAKE A WATER SAMPLE FOR LABORATORY ANALYSIS. YOU WILL RECEIVE THE RESULTS AND A FULL REPORT APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER THE TEST.
OPTION 4. PURCHASE A HOME TESTING KIT AND UNDERTAKE A SIMPLE TEST YOURSELF. VISIT WWW.THEWATERCORPORATION.COM TO PURCHASE A TEST KIT OR ALTERNATIVELY CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DIY STORE. OPTION 5. REPLACE THE EXISTING PIPE WORK AND ANY LEAD JOINTS WITH APPROVED PLASTIC PIPE AND FIXINGS.
CONTACT US ON 0800 622 6699 AND WE WILL ARRANGE FOR ONE OF OUR APPROVED PLUMBERS TO VISIT YOUR PROPERTY AND PROVIDE YOU WITH A FULLY ITEMISED ACTION PLAN INCLUDING A COST BREAKDOWN AND TIMING PLAN.
Who is responsible for the water pipes?
Contrary to popular opinion, your water authority is NOT responsible for the water pipes connecting your home to the main water supply.
All pipework within the boundary of a property is the responsibility of the homeowner or landlord. Therefore YOU are legally responsible for the cost of any remedial work and damage or personal injury caused by lead pipes.
CALL US NOW
To arrange your FREE inspection call us today on 0800 622 6699. Our offices are open from 8.00am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday.
