Abstract

Lead pipes were widely used up to the mid-1980s to connect houses to the public water supply and most remain in service. A preliminary estimate is that up to 25% of houses in Europe have a lead connection pipe. Lead pipes were also used within buildings and many of these also remain in service. The lead that can dissolve from the lead pipes into the drinking water is of major health concern, particularly as lead ingestion has been demonstrated to reduce the IQ of young children. Total lead pipe replacement is the obvious solution but is hampered by high cost (as much as €200m in Europe), split ownership and a reluctance for home-owners to take action. Centralised corrosion control treatment, by pH elevation and dosing orthophosphate, offers a low-cost solution in the short to medium term. However, corrective action has been limited in many European countries because problems with lead in drinking water have been greatly underestimated due to sampling deficiencies.

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