Lead is commonly found in the environment. It comes from a variety of sources such as vehicle exhausts and old paint work and may be present in air, food, soil or water. Lead piping is common in older water supply networks throughout the country, particularly in urban areas. In many instances the piping runs underneath the housing network.
Up to the early 1970’s, lead was commonly used for water pipes and particularly supply pipes. Part or all of the supply pipe connecting the water main in the street to the kitchen tap may be made of lead. For this reason, the amount of lead in drinking water can sometimes be above the present day permissible standard.
It is important to emphasise that water in the public supply network does not contain lead when it leaves the treatment works. Current drinking water regulations (European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations 2007 –S.I No. 278 of 2007) limit the lead concentration to 25μg/l which equates to 25 parts per billion and this limit will be reduced to 10μg/l in 2013. The results from sampling of drinking water taken in County Offaly are all well within the permissible parameters for lead.
It is standard operational practice for Offaly County Council’s Water Services staff to replace lead piping with PVC piping when repairing older watermains in the public water supply network.
How Do I Know If There Are Lead Pipes In My Home?
If your home has been built ormodernised since the early 1970’s, or the pipe work replaced from the stop valve 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:
Inside your home
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 if it is lead along as much of its length as possible. Unpainted lead pipes are dull grey. They are also soft. If you scrape the surface gently with a knife, you will see the shiny, silver-coloured metal beneath.
Outside your home
Open the flap of the stop valve outside your property. Examine the pipe leading from the stop valve to the property, and follow the procedure as outlined above.
Other pipe materials in common use are:
- copper - bright, hard and dull brown
- iron - dark, very hard and may be rusty
- plastic - may be grey, black or blue
The presence of lead water pipe work in or outside your home does not necessarily mean that you are exposed to elevated levels of Lead
Who Is Responsible For The Pipe Work?
The part of the service pipe leading from the stop valve outside your property to the kitchen tap point is your responsibility or the property owner’s responsibility.
The part of the service pipe which links the water main in the street to the stop valve outside your property is the responsibility of Offaly Local Authorities.
What Can I Do To Reduce Lead Levels?
If you have concerns regarding possible lead levels in your drinking water, take the following short-term precautions: Do not drink water that has been standing in the pipes for long periods, for example, overnight.
In these circumstances, draw off a basin-full of water from the kitchen tap to clear the water which 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. If the length of lead pipes exceeds 40 metres, additional water may need to be drawn off. You can then use the water from the kitchen tap as usual.
Boiling Water Does Not Remove Lead
If you have any lead pipework between the stop valve outside your home and your kitchen tap, the best solution is to replace it with copper or plastic pipework.
Other Useful Hints
Whether or not there is lead plumbing in your home:
For drinking and cooking, always use the water from the cold water tap in the kitchen
Avoid drinking water from bathroom taps.
Testing your water supply
If you have concerns and wish to have your water supply tested immediately for the presence of lead, Offaly County Council can provide you with the contact details of accredited laboratories. In addition Offaly County Council carries out an ongoing programme of testing on public water supplies, which includes monitoring for the presence of lead.
Where Can I Get Further Information and Advice?
Contact Offaly County Council:
Water Services Section: 057-9357416
Email: water@offalycoco.ie
Website:http://www.offaly.ie/waterservices
Contact Health Services Executive:
Department of Environmental Health: 057-9359550
Website: http://www.hse.ie
HSE Statement on Lead in Drinking Water
HSE FAQ on Lead in Drinking Water