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We have just moved into an old property c1928 and discovered it has a lead water pipe coming into the house below the meter. It obviously needs changing but will we get any short term effects? Bit worried as we have two, aged kids 4 and 6.
We are planning a major refurb next year as we don't have the money at the moment.
Anyone else still got one connected?
Your water company should offer a free test to check the level of contamination
eventually
In the last 80 years how many kids do you think were brought up in that house. Most of them will be dead now .... Was it from a bit of lead pipe - likely not.
Very common in older houses. Should be ok as scale builds up on the inside of the pipe over time unless you have soft water.
Hundreds of thousands of people probably have lead pipes, as did everyone pre-plastic pipe. I have one, I'm not worried about it. You should he more worried about the fiberglass insulation in your loft...
No
Dont drink it?
Just run it for a minute in a morning when water has been stood in the pipe. No big deal - it'll only be a short run inside the boundary I bet.
If you are still concerned, buy a £20 water filter.
You're probably already dead. Do small children, invisible to others, often try talking with you?
I'm still alive..
Most of them will be dead now .... Was it from a bit of lead pipe - likely not.
Was it the Candlestick holder?
Mrs(she's a water engineer - but can't build bikes for toffee)..
says they put 'something' in the water to counter act the lead + run for 30 secs in am.
[url= http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/consumers/advice-leaflets/lead.pdf ]defra advice[/url]
We're in the same position having moved into new house in June. I seem to remember that lead levels increase the longer the water sits. So if the tap was not run for a long time the levels of lead in the water then run off would be higher than in a pipe which was constantly being used. It is something I will change in the not too distant future but not too bothered for the short term.
Ours is exactly the same. as above, run it for 30 secs when you get back from more than a week away. Puts hairs on your chest (or something)
I think you'll find it actually puts lead in your pencil, Olly.
We've got about 10' from the meter to where it enters the house, the rest of the house has been done. I'll replace the last bit one day, hopefully before I die.
Thinking about it, the old chap who sold us the house looks really good for 80+ years!
Thanks for the replies.
Pretty much every Victorian house in the UK has a lead water pipe. Mind you all the Victorians are dead now, so maybe there is something to worry about......
Thought it was particularly bad for young children but tolerable for adults.
We have one and decided to run a filter. It is from silver line easy enough to fit although it requires its own tap for the cheaper ones that just do your drinking water not the whole house.
Your water company will have info on lead probably.
We have one to our house, with young kids - got our water tested and the levels were way below the threshold. Scaling of pipes and orthophosphoric acid treatment by the water co must see to it.
Environmental lead is / was a big deal, although more with petrol and paints than water - you're right to take it seriously. Interesting article [url= http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/07/violent-crime-lead-poisoning-british-export ]here[/url] on the possible impacts - from the moonbat so you need to divide it by ten, but thought-provoking all the same.
I would suggest you just flush the tap briefly before you take the drinking water you need, and if concerned you can contact your water utility to get the water tested.
All water companies dose with orthophosphoric acid to stop lead entrainment, you will be fine. Until you need the environment to stop being eutrophic due to all the phosphate dosed into water supply.... swings and roundabouts....