It may seem hard to fathom now, when considering replacement water pipes, but at one time lead was a very popular, widely-used material. Lead is a soft metal, which makes it easy to work into a desired shape. Its history as a practical material dates back at least as far as Roman times.

London actually had wooden pipes sealed together with animal fat in the 16th and 17th centuries. In this context, lead pipework must have represented something of a progression. By the end of the 19th century, lead pipes were widely in use, particularly following the industrial revolution.

By the early 20th century, lead had become recognised as a health problem, but the established ‘safe’ levels of lead were not properly established until the latter half of the century. In the 1960s, lead began to be phased out of paint products, firstly through a voluntary system of regulation, and later through legislation; houses built since 1970 cannot have lead pipework for their water supply.

Lead water pipes are still present in some older properties and various public replacement programmes continue to be announced in the news. Recently, Yorkshire Water was set to begin a year-long upgrade project in the Leeds area.

For some, it’s going to be a question of personal initiative. If you think your property still has lead pipework this is worth checking. Lead pipes carry the potential of a health risk by contaminating domestic water over time, and if your pipework is old, it is likely to be more susceptible to damage through wear
and tear.

It’s important to be aware of where your responsibilities begin and end for your water supply. Your local utilities company maintains the communication pipe running from the main road to your property. The mains water supply pipe running into your home, within your property boundary, is your responsibility.

Pipeline Services provides a professional, efficient service for replacing water pipes. We’ll come and inspect your property, determine what work is required and give you a quote for the work. We use trenchless technology, which is cost-effective and minimises the disruption when it comes to replacing your old, lead pipework.

It’s time to look forward, not back. Contact Pipeline Services today to get your water supply an upgrade fit for the 21st century.