How to lower the lead in your water
Replacing your lead pipe with a new and modern pipe is the best way to get rid of lead completely.
However, in the meantime, if you have lead pipes, here’s a few other things you can do to lower the lead levels in your drinking water:
Cold water
Only use cold water from the kitchen tap for drinking and cooking. Hot water dissolves and produces more lead. Change the water in your kettle each time as lead can build up in water when it’s re-boiled.
Run the tap
Always run the tap before using the water for drinking, cooking or brushing your teeth. This is particularly important if the water has not been used for several hours or been stood overnight.
Run the tap at a medium flow until the sink or washing up bowl is full. This would usually be enough to remove standing water in a pipe up to 40 metres. Flushing the toilet or having a shower will also remove standing water.
Always be WRAS approved
Use fittings and equipment that form part of the water system that is of an appropriate quality or standard approved and certified by a competent testing facility.
Further information
More information about lead pipes and drinking water can be found on the Drinking Water Inspectorate website (opens new window).