National Lead in Drinking Water

Private Sector Enquiry Form

Overview

In Scotland, lead does not occur naturally in significant concentrations in our water supplies. The problem arises when drinking water come into contact with lead supply pipes, lead tanks, lead solder joints on copper pipes, or inferior quality brass fittings and taps, particularly for longer periods (e.g. overnight / weekends / holiday periods). This can result in high levels in the drinking water supply.

If you suspect you may have lead pipes, the Council encourages you to undertake further works with a view to establishing whether lead is present and to take steps to replace them and as a short-term, implement some precautionary measures to protect your health.

Information on the health effects of exposure to lead can be found on the NHS inform website.

Grant/Eligibility Criteria

We offer grants at 50% for lead supply replacement for your drinking water.

A grant at the rate of 50% of approved costs will be available to residential properties to replace lead piping from the toby in the street to the cold-water drinking supply pipe in the kitchen.  Owner/occupiers will automatically qualify for the 50% while landlords may be offered grant at a lower rate.

Grant would not be considered just to remove lead pipes internally in a property if the external pipes bringing in the cold-water supply are still lead lined.

Scottish Water will remove any lead lined pipes which belong to them (normally from the water main in your street and the communication pipe up to, and including the stop cock, at the boundary of your property), you can find more information about water supply pipe responsibilities and the contact details for Scottish Water on their website Lead and Your Water - Scottish Water.

• Flats - If you live in a flatted property such a traditional tenement then the grant would only be available for the replacement of the common supply from the pavement into the close and both rising mains which feed the kitchen cold water tap. Generally, the property factor would obtain quotes on behalf of the co-owners and co-ordinate an application to the Council for grant funding.  Each flat owner would require to complete a grant application form and vote in favour of the works to enable the Council to consider the application.
• Terraced or Semi Detached - In certain circumstances the cold-water supply from the pavement will feed a number of properties within a terrace or semi-detached house. In this situation neighbours would need to be consulted as applications for grant should be completed by any owner with a shared supply. Once quotes have been obtained owners would require to complete an application and agree to these works before submitting the required estimates and grant application forms to the Council.
• 4 in a Block - The supply for this type of property will run from the stopcock on the pavement to the block and as this is a shared supply all 4 owners would need to agree to the work and complete a grant application form once estimates have been arranged. The Council would then review the applications and issue formal offers of grant to each owner. 
• Detached - As this type of property will have an individual supply from the street a quote for replacement of the supply from pavement to kitchen cold tap would be required prior to completing the grant application form.

Note: The Council will assess any quotation submitted against agreed rates. Reinstatement of mono block/tarmac after excavation is not covered by the grant.

Further advice can be found on the Under One Roof website.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying please Email (opens new window) us.