Lead water supply

NiCkNaMe · 29 Sep 2009 at 22:11

Hi All,

I may possibly be buying a property with a lead water supply. It was built in 53.

I understand the water board replace the pipes up to the garden boundary and from then on in it's our responsibility for the rest.

Anyone ever done this? I'll be phoning for a few quotes from plumbers in the morning however i'd like a quick idea before calling. Information on the net seems all of a muchness.

From the boundary to where the pipe would enter the house is approximately 7m.

Finally, do they have to be replaced? I'm guessing this depends on testing what the levels of lead in the water are?

Thanks,

NiCkNaMe · 29 Sep 2009 at 22:32

Telescopi said:
are you in a hard water area (do you get scale in the kettle?)

Just had a scan on a 'hard water' map and it's saying we're in a 'hard to very hard' area ... this is Stoke-On-Trent.

I was thinking about ringing the water board - however they won't 'push' us to have it replaced if not required?

NiCkNaMe · 29 Sep 2009 at 22:33

JAMAL said:
Im guessing the amount of lead in the water would be extremely low if at all, probably due to a layer of minerals in the pipe itself which have built up over the years?

See if you can get some sort of testing kit.

Not a bad point I guess! Can't really test unless I arrange another visit though (we haven't finalised contracts yet)...

It may be a consideration if it would be a huge cost as to whether we actually made the purchase.

NiCkNaMe · 29 Sep 2009 at 22:34

Windle said:
Generally speaking the water board will also replace your service pipe (Stopock to House) when they do the Comms pipe (Mains to Stopcock) at a reasonable price.

We talking a couple of hundred (I know it depends upon length...) but ballpark?

NiCkNaMe · 30 Sep 2009 at 11:19

Thanks Telescopi

from reading around that seems to ring true and it will be 2 adults living in the house. It's something that i would want sorting and would hopefully do myself however I could do without the expense initially as it's a bit of a project. Thanks for all the replies and when I decide to do it I will make sure I contact the local council in case of any grants, etc.