Lead water pipes - how to respond

[christinarossetti]

Just a quick query if anyone has a moment....

Have just received the post-survey questions from our buyers' solicitor (actually not particularly lengthly considering it's a Victorian house and they had a full structural survey done). They want to know whether we know whether we know if the mains water pipe coming into the house has ever been upgraded or replaced as the surveyor 'thinks' it might be lead. Our surveyor 8 years ago couldn't see the pipe though made the usual suggestion that we find out and replace if necessary etc.

We haven't even thought about it since...

I actually have no idea and it wasn't part of the paperwork given to us when we bought the house. What's the likelihood of it being lead (now worrying about what on earth we've all been drinking all these years!)?

We're going to have to say 'I don't know' as we've said to the qus about when the radiators were fitted, when the double glazing was installed, roof improved, rooms knocked through etc, aren't we?

TIA

it would probably have been lead when the victorians put it in, so the question is whether it has been replaced.

i've lived in / bought / sold / drunk water in houses with lead pipes for years and I'm still ok (I think).

Thanks. Yes, I've got no idea whether it's been replaced.

You're right - we've probably all drunk loads of water from lead pipes.

Thanks

we live in Thames water region and we had them test our water for lead levels for free. We knew that there was still some lead pipe - coming from the street to inside the front door as we had a leak that had to be mended.
I was told that due to all the limescale it would be very unlikely that the levels of lead would be high, but they tested and it was fine.

A few years later we did have all the lead piping into our house replaced, but as far as I know the supply to the street in the road is likely still to be lead.

It is not a big deal. The water company will test drinking water for lead content, free, on request, and there may be a subsidy towards the cost of replacement.

In practical terms, the biggest problem with old pipes (apart from leaks) is that they are of very small bore, so the flow of water through them (litres per minute) is quite restricted, especially if the lead has been squashed by ground movement over the years.

Digging a trench and laying a new, larger, plastic pipe can make a huge improvement to water flow in your home, and if you do not have a cold water tank in the loft, will greatly improve the performance of your taps and showers. It is more arduous if there is concrete between the house and the pavement, and solid floors.

We have just bought a house with lead water pipes. The surveyor said that it's no big deal, particularly since we live in an area of high lime scale, so pipes are probably coated with calcium carbonate which will prevent the water absorbing the lead from the pipes. He says he thinks most water pipes where we live are lead as most houses were built before the 1970s, which is I believe the time they were discontinued. The only problem he said we might face is when we come to sell, as buyers from a soft water area might be suspicious and want some money off the house or for the seller to replace them. Personally, I'm not bothered by them.

yes, as you must give truthful answers all you can say is 'don't know'.

it only matters in soft water areas.

I've got lead pipes. Water board did a free lead level check and levels were very low and safe.

Thanks all. Another 'sorry, we don't know' e-mail sent!

I do wonder if this is a standard comment on all surveys of older properties? It has certainly featured in the survey of all 3 we have bought

"it only matters in soft water areas"

^ this.