Grey in appearance
Unpainted lead pipes appear a dull grey colour.
Lead pipes and lead in your water
Lead was historically used a lot in petrol, paint and water pipes, but in 1970 the government banned the use of lead in water pipes. This decision was made due to evidence that exposure over a period of time can have health implications, with the greatest risk being to children under six and pregnant women.
Our water mains are not made from lead and the water that leaves our treatment works contains virtually no lead. However, water may pick up lead as it passes through any lead pipes within a customer’s property, or when it passes through the pipe that connects the property to our water main in the street.
Here are some steps to identify lead pipes
You can read the steps below, or click here to take a look at our handy lead factsheet. Alternatively we have a short video for you to watch at the bottom of the page, alongside some helpful resources from the Drinking Water Inspectorate, GOV.UK and others.
Find your internal stop tap, usually behind the cupboards in your kitchen or a downstairs toilet. This will be where the water first comes into the property. Now, carry out the below checks to determine if your pipes are lead:
Swollen joints
There is often a swollen joint next to the tap if there is lead pipework.
Tap the pipe
Tap the pipe with a metal object. Lead makes a dull thud; other metals make a clear ringing.
The coin test
Gently scrape the pipe with a coin, a shiny silver metal will be beneath.
If you’re still unsure, ask a plumber for a second opinion. We can help you find a plumber here.
Top tips to minimise the risk of lead pipes
If you have lead pipes the best way to eliminate the risk is to make an application onto our Lead Replacement Scheme, once accepted you can get them replaced by a WaterSafe approved plumber.
Run the cold kitchen tap
In the morning run the cold kitchen tap to fill a wash bowl, this will flush out any standing water from the pipes. Reuse this to water the plants.
Flush the toilet to clear
Flush the loo, this will also do the job of clearing any water that has been standing in the pipes.
Food and drink preparation
Only use water from the kitchen cold tap for food and drink preparation.
Avoid knocking the pipes
Do your best not to knock or disturb lead pipes, as this can increase lead in your water.
Identifying lead pipes and actions you can take
If you do have lead pipes, there’s plenty you can do to minimise the risks to you and your family.
Lead in drinking water
The Drinking Water Inspectorate have produced an article
Lead poisoning advice
GOV.UK have a guide for public & healthcare professionals
Risks, monitoring & correction
The World Health Organization have created a lead technical brief
Lead in water FAQs
WaterSafe have pulled together some handy FAQs
Working safely with lead
The Health and Safety Executive have pulled together some useful information