The 10 Microgramme Lead Limit: What Thames Water Customers Need to Know
The 10 microgramme lead limit is often misunderstood There is a lot of confusion about the 10 microgrammes per…
Water testing for lead is essential for any property owner who wants to ensure their drinking water is free of lead. Lead contamination can enter your water supply through your service pipe, hidden internal lead pipes, lead solder or old taps and fittings or corroded iron pipes
Even small amounts of lead exposure can be harmful, especially for children, pregnant women, and unborn babies, leading to behavioural problems, kidney damage, and other long-term health effects.
Our lead testing services help you protect your own home, rental properties, schools, nurseries, healthcare settings, and businesses. If you’re concerned about lead in drinking water, deteriorating pipework, or contaminants entering your kitchen tap, we provide fast, accurate analysis and clear next steps to reduce lead exposure.
Lead contamination is silent — you can’t see it, taste it, or smell it. It typically enters tap water through old lead service lines, deteriorating plumbing inside older houses, or connections between the communication pipe and private supply pipe. Many older UK homes still have pipe leading from the external stop tap to the internal plumbing that may include lead materials.
Even small amounts of lead in water can carry serious health risks. Lead particles can accumulate in the body, especially in children, leading to harmful health effects, including cognitive impairment and behavioural issues. Adults may experience high blood pressure, cardiovascular complications, and kidney damage.
If your property was built before 1970, there is a higher risk that lead pipework was used internally, externally, or as part of the original service connection. These pipes often have a dull grey colour, are softer than copper or steel, and may still be hidden beneath floors, within walls, or between the boundary and the property.
Because lead can leach into water during periods of stagnation, older pipework may result in elevated lead levels without any visible warning signs. Identifying whether lead materials are present allows you to take informed action to reduce exposure and keep your drinking water safe.
As a WaterSafe Approved Contractor, we operate within the framework of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. This allows us to carry out compliant work on drinking water systems and provide recognised certification of work completed. In many cases, this removes the need for separate water company inspection and provides a clear audit trail for property owners
Where elevated lead levels are identified, we don’t just report the issue — we define responsibility between the water supplier and the property owner, advise on compliance under Sections 73–75 of the Water Industry Act 1991, and provide a direct route to resolution. This ensures your property is protected both technically and legally.
We are always happy to provide advice and a free estimate without obligation
Take advantage of our limited-time offer and save 10% on all lead pipe replacement works.
This discount applies to full supply-pipe renewals carried out by our approved moling specialists.
Not sure whether your property has lead pipes or elevated lead levels in your water? We offer a free lead content test to help you assess your risk before committing to replacement works.
We offer two effective water testing options, each designed to help detect lead in water quickly and accurately.
Provides instant results in under 30 seconds, allowing you to understand your drinking water lead levels immediately without waiting for lab processing.
Using either a photometer test kit or laboratory analysis, we follow industry-standard procedures to ensure reliability.
We collect water samples from key points within your system to understand where lead may be entering the supply:
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Testing is the first step — we also provide a clear route to full resolution.
If your results show lead levels above recommended limits, we offer a comprehensive plan to reduce lead levels and eliminate contamination at its source.
We ensure your property reaches a safe standard with virtually no lead in the water.
Lead testing is especially important if:
If you are unsure whether your water contains lead, our simple instructions and expert assessment help you identify risks quickly.
From first enquiry to clear results, expert guidance, and a structured action plan — fast, straightforward, and focused on identifying risk, defining responsibility, and delivering the right solution for your property
Contact us to arrange a test and site survey.
Lead testing is often just the starting point of a wider water safety plan. Once you understand your current lead levels, you can take targeted action to safeguard your supply.
Clear answers to common questions about lead testing, water samples, responsibility, results, and what happens if lead is found.
Our on‑site photometer measures total dissolved lead at very low concentrations, with a detection limit down to approximately 0.03–0.09 µg/L (ppb) and an operating range of 1–500 µg/L. For formal reporting and compliance, samples can also be analysed by a UKAS‑certified laboratory, providing highly precise, accredited results.
Photometer tests produce results within 30 seconds. Lab results typically take 3–5 working days from sample submission.
Lead pipes were phased out in the 1970s, so homes built after that are less likely to be affected. However, older areas or homes with partial renovations may still have legacy pipework, and lead‑based solder can also be present in older installations or from illegal post‑ban use in later DIY or unregulated works
No. Our testing and pipe replacement services are designed to be non-invasive and completed with minimal disruption. You can remain safely in your home during the process.
The most effective long-term solution is full pipe replacement. Certified filters and regular flushing protocols can reduce lead exposure in the short term.
Filters can help reduce lead at specific taps, but they are not a permanent solution. Full pipe replacement is the only way to eliminate the risk completely.
Yes. We regularly conduct testing for schools, healthcare facilities, office buildings, and housing associations. We also provide detailed documentation for compliance.
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Absolutely. We assist with all paperwork and liaise directly with Thames Water, Affinity Water, or your local council to streamline the testing, reporting, and any replacement works.
Yes. Lead contamination can originate from pipework up to the property boundary, particularly where historic lead service pipes connect to the water main. Responsibility is divided at the boundary, and we can advise whether the issue sits with the homeowner or the water supplier.
Yes. Lead in drinking water is dangerous to human health even at low levels. There is no safe exposure threshold, which is why testing and remediation are recommended where lead is detected.
Lead levels can vary depending on the length, material, and condition of water pipes serving each outlet. Taps supplied by longer runs of older pipework may show more lead, particularly after stagnation.
In most cases, the water company owns the water main and communication pipe up to the boundary. The homeowner is responsible for the supply pipe and all the plumbing inside the property. We help establish responsibility and advise on the correct next steps.
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South London – Bromley – Croydon – Merton – Kingston – Sutton – Wandsworth – West London – Brent – Ealing – Hammersmith & Fulham – Harrow – Richmond – Hillingdon – Hounslow – East London – Lewisham – Greenwich – Hackney – Tower Hamlets – Newham – Bexley – Waltham Forest – North London – Barnet –Enfield– Haringey – Central London – Camden – City of London – Kensington & Chelsea – Islington – Lambeth – Southwark – Westminster – Surrey – Elmbridge – Epsom – Guildford – Mole Valley – Reigate – Runnymede – Spelthorne – Surrey Heath – Tandridge – Waverley – Woking
Your health starts with clean, safe drinking water. Let’s make sure yours is Lead-Free.