Lead pipes found after assured they don't exist

AdrianC

Another vote here for "It'll be fine." As has been said, over the decades, the pipes get a buildup of deposits which prevent any lead leaching into the water. It really only becomes an issue if the lead is disturbed - at which point, it often starts to leak like a sieve. B'sides, even if the pipe from street to stopcock is replaced, who's to say there's no lead elsewhere in the water network?

Eviesmummy

I work in a chemistry laboratory and do a lot of routine work on trace level leached metals. All the advice you've recieved about build up in the pipes stopping the water becoming contaminated is correct. But if you are worried and don't want to go to the expense of replacing the pipes without a need, find a testing facility and send them a sample - the results should allay your fears.

DRP

If you are concerned, run the tap for 30 seconds prior to using it for drinking/cooking. You can keep a watering can next to the sink so the water isn't wasted.

The water company tested our water for free and sent us a written report.
Levels were very low in standing water and even lower after running the tap..

In other words, the plumber has obviously been lazy, but no actual harm done.

ps. if it was so easy to find the lead supply pipe, why didn't you look before buying the place? and how has it taken you 9 months to find the stop tap?

propertyman

I know from my history lessons that lead piping came in to common use in the early 1800's.

What I cannot remember is 200 years of dead people in streets from lead pipe poisoning....:rotfl:

That lead is harmful is one thing, but the circumstances where the ingestion amounts to that which is harmful especially in the UK and in hard water areas, are exceptional.

That said the plumber (which means someone that works with lead) could be right, perhaps where there are lead pipes they were not accessible or only by moving/removing items or opening up which the vendor refused to do.

Bantex_2

propertyman wrote: »

I know from my history lessons that lead piping came in to common use in the early 1800's.

What I cannot remember is 200 years of dead people in streets from lead pipe poisoning....:rotfl:

That lead is harmful is one thing, but the circumstances where the ingestion amounts to that which is harmful especially in the UK and in hard water areas, are exceptional.

That said the plumber (which means someone that works with lead) could be right, perhaps where there are lead pipes they were not accessible or only by moving/removing items or opening up which the vendor refused to do.

The word plumbing actually derives from the latin for lead. The Romans use it.

CLAPTON

obviously the greatest concentration of lead will be after the longest period of non use
i.e. first thing in the morning or after return from holiday

first thing in the morning many people wash/shower, flush the WC etc so a lot of water is run off prior to actually drinking any water : but if it worries you run the kitchen tap for several minutes before use for drinking.

propertyman

Bantex wrote: »

The word plumbing actually derives from the latin for lead. The Romans use it.

Hence plumbing working with lead, in this case for pipes:cool:

propertyman

CLAPTON wrote: »

obviously the greatest concentration of lead will be after the longest period of non use
i.e. first thing in the morning or after return from holiday

first thing in the morning many people wash/shower, flush the WC etc so a lot of water is run off prior to actually drinking any water : but if it worries you run the kitchen tap for several minutes before use for drinking.

Or use a water filter for drinking water.

Mojisola

propertyman wrote: »

What I cannot remember is 200 years of dead people in streets from lead pipe poisoning....:rotfl:

But lead doesn't kill you unless you ingest massive amounts - which isn't to say it's harmless.
https://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Lead-Poisoning.htm

That lead is harmful is one thing, but the circumstances where the ingestion amounts to that which is harmful especially in the UK and in hard water areas, are exceptional.

This is true - but when our children might be at risk it's not always easy to be objective. Testing the water would be a good idea. If the levels are low, there won't be any health issues and the parents can relax.

Remember that until the ban on lead in petrol, most of us were getting a regular dose of lead from the streets far higher than anything we got from lead water pipes.

googler

What 'accident' led to the discovery of the pipes?

Could it perhaps have been the removal of something which you wouldn't expect the plumber to remove without damaging the fabric of the house?