Is there lead in our water supply?

stockshares

Hello, 
             I have a question about the amount of lead in the water
 supply.

Our house was built between 1972-1975.

Should we run the water for a few minutes every morning in order to reduce our risk of Lead poisoning?

If so how long should we run the water for?

Is it also necessary to run the water in case it has been stagnating over night?

I would like to conserve as much water as possible so if  you could let me know the answers to the above it would be very helpful.

Thank you

Irish Water: Niamh

Hi stockshares,

stockshares wrote: »

Hello, 
             I have a question about the amount of lead in the water
 supply.

Our house was built between 1972-1975.

Should we run the water for a few minutes every morning in order to reduce our risk of Lead poisoning?

If so how long should we run the water for?

Is it also necessary to run the water in case it has been stagnating over night?

I would like to conserve as much water as possible so if  you could let me know the answers to the above it would be very helpful.

Thank you

As your property was constructed during the 1970's, it may contain lead pipework.

We would recommend that you contact a qualified plumber to investigate your property's internal and external pipework to determine if lead pipes are present and to have these replaced.

You can also arrange to have your water privately tested to determine whether lead is present in your supply. A list of accredited testing facilities can be found here.

If your tap has not been used for many hours, running or flushing the water before using it for drinking or cooking may lower the level of lead if it is present in your supply. Therefore, we would also recommend running your taps for 10-15 minutes before use. For more information regarding lead in drinking water, please see here.

We hope this information helps.

Kind regards,
Niamh

stockshares

Irish Water: Niamh wrote: »

Hi stockshares,

stockshares wrote: »

Hello, 
             I have a question about the amount of lead in the water
 supply.

Our house was built between 1972-1975.

Should we run the water for a few minutes every morning in order to reduce our risk of Lead poisoning?

If so how long should we run the water for?

Is it also necessary to run the water in case it has been stagnating over night?

I would like to conserve as much water as possible so if  you could let me know the answers to the above it would be very helpful.

Thank you

As your property was constructed during the 1970's, it may contain lead pipework.

We would recommend that you contact a qualified plumber to investigate your property's internal and external pipework to determine if lead pipes are present and to have these replaced.

You can also arrange to have your water privately tested to determine whether lead is present in your supply. A list of accredited testing facilities can be found here.

If your tap has not been used for many hours, running or flushing the water before using it for drinking or cooking may lower the level of lead if it is present in your supply. Therefore, we would also recommend running your taps for 10-15 minutes before use. For more information regarding lead in drinking water, please see here.

We hope this information helps.

Kind regards,
Niamh

Hello Niamh, 
                    thanks for the reply.

The Link for the Private Testing does not work. Can you post it again it please?

Your suggestion to run the Water for 10-15 mins seems an awful waste of water. If everyone had to do this eveytime they used the tap we would have no water left.

Is there no responsibility on Irish Water to ensure that no Lead piping is in use today in Ireland? Why is it left to the house holder to sort this out?

Thanks

Irish Water: Niamh

Hi stockshares,

stockshares wrote: »

Hello Niamh, 
                    thanks for the reply.

The Link for the Private Testing does not work. Can you post it again it please?

Your suggestion to run the Water for 10-15 mins seems an awful waste of water. If everyone had to do this eveytime they used the tap we would have no water left.

Is there no responsibility on Irish Water to ensure that no Lead piping is in use today in Ireland? Why is it left to the house holder to sort this out?

Thanks 

My apologies, please see the following link:[font=Calibri, sans-serif]https://www.inab.ie/Directory-of-Accredited-Bodies/Laboratory-Accreditation/Testing[/font]

We understand, however; if you are concerned that your property's pipework may contain lead, we would recommend running your taps for 10-15 minutes before use. The longer water has been sitting in a lead pipe, the more likely lead will dissolve into it.

Irish Water is responsible for the public water and wastewater network. There are no lead water mains remaining in Ireland; however, there are some service connections remaining which may contain lead. For more information, please see here.

We recommend contacting a qualified plumber to determine if lead is present in your private property's pipework and replace these pipes if needed.

If your property's pipework does contain lead, The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has a scheme available to assist homeowners with the cost of replacing lead pipework. More information on this is available here.

You may also find this FAQ useful.

I hope this helps and if you have any further queries, please feel free to get in touch.

Kind regards,
Niamh

Zillah

stockshares wrote: »

Is there no responsibility on Irish Water to ensure that no Lead piping is in use today in Ireland? Why is it left to the house holder to sort this out?

Because they're your pipes in your house on your private property? Why on Earth would anyone else be responsible for them?

stockshares

Irish Water: Niamh wrote: »

Hi David,

stockshares wrote: »

Hello Niamh, 
                    thanks for the reply.

The Link for the Private Testing does not work. Can you post it again it please?

Your suggestion to run the Water for 10-15 mins seems an awful waste of water. If everyone had to do this eveytime they used the tap we would have no water left.

Is there no responsibility on Irish Water to ensure that no Lead piping is in use today in Ireland? Why is it left to the house holder to sort this out?

Thanks
David 

My apologies, please see the following link:[font=Calibri, sans-serif]https://www.inab.ie/Directory-of-Accredited-Bodies/Laboratory-Accreditation/Testing[/font]

We understand, however; if you are concerned that your property's pipework may contain lead, we would recommend running your taps for 10-15 minutes before use. The longer water has been sitting in a lead pipe, the more likely lead will dissolve into it.

Irish Water is responsible for the public water and wastewater network. There are no lead water mains remaining in Ireland; however, there are some service connections remaining which may contain lead. For more information, please see here.

We recommend contacting a qualified plumber to determine if lead is present in your private property's pipework and replace these pipes if needed.

If your property's pipework does contain lead, The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has a scheme available to assist homeowners with the cost of replacing lead pipework. More information on this is available here.

You may also find this FAQ useful.

I hope this helps and if you have any further queries, please feel free to get in touch.

Kind regards,
Niamh

Thanks Niamh, 
                       no need to apologise.

I'm more curious than concerned. I have no reason to think that there are lead pipes other than the house was built in 1975. I was just taking precautions and wondered what was the optimal time to run the water for in order to conserve water. Ill get it checked just to be sure. 

The info on the Grant is appreciated.

Assuming that there is no lead in the water, would it still be necessary to run the water tap in the morning?
 
Thanks

GooglePlus

stockshares wrote: »

Thanks Niamh, 
                       no need to apologise.

I'm more curious than concerned. I have no reason to think that there are lead pipes other than the house was built in 1975. 
I was just taking precautions and wondered what was the optimal time to run the water for in order to conserve water.
Ill get it checked just to be sure. 

The info on the Grant is appreciated.

Assuming that there is no lead in the water, would it still be necessary to run the water tap in the morning?
 
Thanks

If you've clean plastic piping, there's no need to run the water for more than it takes to freshen up/get cold.

stockshares

GooglePlus wrote: »

stockshares wrote: »

Thanks Niamh, 
                       no need to apologise.

I'm more curious than concerned. I have no reason to think that there are lead pipes other than the house was built in 1975. 
I was just taking precautions and wondered what was the optimal time to run the water for in order to conserve water.
Ill get it checked just to be sure. 

The info on the Grant is appreciated.

Assuming that there is no lead in the water, would it still be necessary to run the water tap in the morning?
 
Thanks

If you've clean plastic piping, there's no need to run the water for more than it takes to freshen up/get cold.

Thanks, good to know

Irish Water: Niamh

Hi stockshares,

You are very welcome.

In that case, running the tap for 10-15 minutes would not be necessary.

If you have any further queries, we will be happy to help.

Kind regards,
Niamh

stockshares

Irish Water: Niamh wrote: »

Hi David,

You are very welcome.

In that case, running the tap for 10-15 minutes would not be necessary.

If you have any further queries, we will be happy to help.

Kind regards,
Niamh

Thanks Niamh, when I get the House checked ill post back here to let you know how it went. It might be of interest to others whos houses were built around the same time.

Irish Water: Niamh

Hi stockshares,

stockshares wrote: »

Thanks Niamh, when I get the House checked ill post back here to let you know how it went. It might be of interest to others whos houses were built around the same time.

That's great to hear and you are very welcome.

Kind regards,
Niamh