Stop tap supply inside to house made of lead

isotonic_uk

Hi

Just moved into a new property and it was built in 1930s.

We currently getting some electrical work done and one of the electricians who has come to quote has mentioned we dont have any bonding on our gas or water supply.

When he looked at the stop tap supply all his bells and whistles went off and he said we do have a problem as the supply into the house, the piping is made of lead.

He has said that we need to get that changed ASAP as he says that shouldnt be there, it is a health and safety risk and he wont be able to earth the water supply as 1) there isnt sufficient place to bond it to and 2) it doesnt meet regulations.

How much truth is in what he is saying? Is this something i need to take note and get sorted from a plumber?

He seemed to think that the water company may be able to advise and they can check if it is lead piping from the street but he did say the cost to sort in the house would be up to me.

Please....please any thoughts on this would be most appreciated.

Starting to think getting a house turns into a bottomless money pit!

Thanks

anotherbaldrick

What is the hardness (in 150ppm) of the water companies supply to your area ? If you enquire they will tell you. If it is hard , say above 150ppm lead pipework will not be a problem , it is softer supply areas where the water will take lead into solution.

societys_child

Millions of homes have lead pipe water mains. Every house I've ever owned has.

Starting to think getting a house turns into a bottomless money pit!

Only if you listen to every Tom, !!!!!! and Harry you allow into your home.

SailorSam

My house has got lead pipes up as far as the copper stoptap.
We've had a rewire and new central heating and neither said bonding was a problem.
When you go out to the mains in the street it's probably plastic or copper so to replace just those few yards you're going to have to dig your path up. I don't think i'd do it.

trailingspouse

When I moved in here in May all the water pipes were lead. The people before us had lived here 20 years, and brought up a family, and didn't appear to be any the worse for it. As we've renovated each area, we've removed the lead as we came across it. We now just have the piping between the house and the water meter (under the drive) to worry about.

I spoke to the water company about it, and it got awfully complicated. In the end we invested in a Brita water filter jug and now don't give it a second thought.

plumb1_2

That so called Sparkie is talking out of his ar*e.

shammyjack

Sack your Sparkie and get one who knows his !!!! from his elbow !

southcoastrgi

The inside of the lead pipe will have got a coating on it not long after it was installed so no water will be touching the lead anyway so don't worry about it, replace any lead pipes as & when you come across them during your many years (I'm sure) of restoration the same as post #5

sparkieguy

All new houses have plastic pipe, so bonding is pointless. ..nether less you still bond!

1. Yes you have to bond to meet current regs.

2. Dont matter if its plastic, copper, steel, lead or pigs dung!

isotonic_uk

Thanks for the replies. Lots of useful info there.

Much appreciated

fluffpot

sparkie probably had his eye on it - good price for scrap...

This is what happened to my elderly neighbours thanks to some cowboy plumbers. When I found out, half of it had gone and so then I said I'd be taking the rest to the scrappy on behalf of my neighbours as it did belong them them technically, the plumbers hid it!!

As above, ignore his/her advice - it's fine to keep it