Is a lead water pipe a problem?

MarkSmith · 28 Oct 2009

Hi,

I haven't been able to turn up the answer to this by searching on here - sorry if this has been covered.

The water supply pipe coming into my house is lead - there's about 8m of it inside the house, and I would guess about 6m more outside before it meets the main in the road.

It's probably been there since 1931.

Is it a problem? I have heard that old lead pipes in hard water areas (which I think Southampton is) will long since have formed a protective limescale coating - but I'd like to know for sure. (Can you test for lead in the water?)

I'm doing a cellar conversion and, although replacing it would be a load of hassle, replacing it AFTER the conversion would be twice as much - so now's the time if it has to be done.

Thanks,
Mark

doitall · 28 Oct 2009

Perfectly safe if left un-disturbed.

Replace all the interior whilst you have the chance.

You may want to have a word with the water supplier, they may do a free lead replacement if you do the digging.

kirkgas · 28 Oct 2009

not sure about the coating protecting it, but given its age surely the better bet would be to replace now, if you are going to alter things to make access difficult/costly rather than "soon" when it bursts and must be done NOW as you will have no water,

izzy eckerslike · 28 Oct 2009

My dads got lead pipes running from the road to the bathroom & kitchen where only the final connections are copper.

He's lived there since 1961 & he's just turned 90 with no bad health problems so I wouldn't worry at all

MarkSmith · 28 Oct 2009

izzy eckerslike said:
My dads got lead pipes running from the road to the bathroom & kitchen where only the final connections are copper.

He's lived there since 1961 & he's just turned 90 with no bad health problems so I wouldn't worry at all

Hehe, by that token going to Gambia without a malaria jab must be safe if one person does it and doesn't die

doitall · 28 Oct 2009

As I said perfectly safe if not disturbed, the water supplier can test the lead content.

However as said it makes sense to get rid of it now, whilst you have the chance.

Agile · 28 Oct 2009

Mild lead intake does not kill people.

But it has a negative effect on the brain functions, memory, processing power and lockouts etc.

Tony

MarkSmith · 28 Oct 2009

Thanks for the replies all. As part of the cellar conversion it's going to get "disturbed" a little bit at least, so I'll look into replacing it.

Currently it runs right under the electricity meter, and is earth bonded there. If it's replaced with plastic, there will be no metal section anywhere near the electricity meter. I presume once it goes metal after the plastic, it still has to be bonded..?

doitall · 28 Oct 2009

Bonding etc is covered under Part P, your sparky should know what to do, including running a temporary earth.

Agile · 28 Oct 2009

For long while it has been normal practice for the house earth to be based on the cable sheath rather than water pipes.

Assuming you have a cable sheath connection then thats not a problem although it would be considered better by many to earth metal water pipes inside the property. Only the gas pipe HAS to be earthed.

A new water supply pipe can be "moled" into position to avoid digging up the front garden if thats paved but it does cost a bit so plain digging is hard work but cheap ( if you can do it! ).

Tony

bengasman · 28 Oct 2009

MarkSmith said:
I'm doing a cellar conversion and, although replacing it would be a load of hassle, replacing it AFTER the conversion would be twice as much - so now's the time if it has to be done.

I think you have answered your own question Mark.

MarkSmith · 28 Oct 2009

bengasman said:
I think you have answered your own question Mark.

I'm not going to replace the ceiling joists or the bricks in the walls, just because they're exposed, though. Only if there's a reason to.

MarkSmith · 17 Nov 2009

Hello again,

As part of this, the route of the pipe is going to change, and the main tap (currently broken, as I found out yesterday) will be replaced as well. While I'm at it, it would seem to be a good idea to put it in a place which isn't completely inaccessible. Are there any restrictions on where it can go?

Thanks!
-Mark

bengasman · 17 Nov 2009

Accessible, frost free, and reasonably safe from mechanical damage

MarkSmith · 17 Nov 2009

Thank you very much!

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Is a lead water pipe a problem?

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