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Lead replacement

		Contents of this page
		Is lead harmful?
		How does lead get into drinking water?
		How do I know if there are lead pipes in my home?
		Who is responsible for the pipework?
		How can I find out if there is lead in my drinking water?
		What can I do to reduce lead levels?
		Our commitment

Is lead harmful?

Lead is commonly found in the environment. It comes from a variety of sources including vehicle exhausts and old paintwork and may be present in air, food, soil or water. Lead can build up in the body, accumulating in the skeleton; it can be harmful. Children up to 6 years of age and pregnant woman are the most susceptible to any adverse health effects from the accumulation of lead. These health effects include the inhibition of a major enzyme in the production of haem (one of the constituents of blood) and the interference with calcium metabolism within the body. Lead is also toxic to the peripheral and central nervous system. It is sensible to avoid excessive exposure from any source. The government has taken steps to reduce lead in petrol and paint and Cambridge Water Company, by compliance with the Government’s Drinking Water Quality Regulations, is committed to reducing the levels of lead in drinking water.

How does lead get into drinking water?

Lead can be present in drinking water, usually in minute quantities, due to dissolution from natural sources but the major source of lead in drinking water is from the metal dissolving in the water while it is in the service pipe. Water does not contain lead when it leaves our treatment works but for a long time, generally up to the early 1960’s, lead was used for some water pipes and in solder used to join copper pipe and fittings. Some types of water, particularly soft water, can dissolve lead from pipes, however the water that we supply is hard and as such is less prone to the dissolution of the metal into the water. The amount of lead dissolved from pipes depends on several factors such as acidity, temperature, water softness and standing time of the water. Our water is treated to reduce this dissolution process, where needed.

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

If the house was built:

• before 1963 it may have lead pipes
• after 1963 it is unlikely to have lead pipes

If you are unsure, you can make a simple check:

Look at the pipework inside your home behind cupboards in your kitchen, the pipes leading to the kitchen tap or where your internal stop valve is located especially the pipe leading up to the stop valve. Check if it is lead; unpainted lead pipes are dull grey and soft. If you scrape the surface gently with a knife, you will see the shiny, silver-coloured metal beneath.

Open the flap of the stop valve chamber outside your property. Examine the pipe leading from the stop valve to the property if you can. Part or all of the service pipe connecting the water main in the street to your kitchen tap may be made of lead. If your home has been modernised since the early 1960’s and all of its pipework replaced, there should be no lead pipe on your property.

Who is responsible for the pipework?

How can I find out if there is lead in my drinking water?

If your home has lead pipes, your drinking water may sometimes contain high levels of lead. If you are concerned about the level of lead in your supply we will send an Inspector, free of charge, to determine the material of the supply pipe and take a water sample for analysis if appropriate. The results will be sent to you after the analysis. Of all the samples we carry out each year for lead compliance, the likelihood of failing the standard is less than 1%.

What can I do to reduce lead levels?

If lead pipes are causing high lead levels in your drinking water, you can take some simple short-term precautions:

• Do not drink water that has been standing in the pipes for long periods, for example, overnight, or if the supply has not been used for several hours. In these circumstances, draw off a washing-up bowl of water from the kitchen tap to clear the water, that has been standing in the pipes. This need not be wasted but can be used on the garden or for something other than drinking or cooking. You can now use the water from the kitchen tap as usual.
• If you have any lead pipework between the stop valve outside your home and your kitchen tap, the best solution is to replace it using copper or plastic pipe.

Our commitment

We are committed to improving the quality of water supplied to our customers. To help reduce lead in the water we are able to offer the following water quality initiative. We will replace free of charge our part of a lead service pipe if:

• A sample exceeds the permitted maximum concentration of 25ug/l for lead; or
• You have replaced your part of the service pipe up to the first draw off tap (some conditions may apply) and request that we replace our part of the service pipe, regardless of the levels of lead in your drinking water

For further information on lead pipe replacement you can contact us by email at quality@cambridge-water.co.uk or call 01223 706050. You may also download our Lead Pipe Replacement leaflet and information is also available from the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s website.

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