Thousands of homeowners are facing bills of around 5000 euro to replace lead pipes in their home.

There is no safe level of lead in water, and it can cause developmental delays in children.

Juliette Gash reports;

The legal limit for lead in drinking water was reduced by Europe from 25 micrograms per litre to 10 micrograms/L in December 2013, in a bid to reduce people's lifetime exposure to lead to the lowest possible level.

The long-term national objective is now to reduce peoples' exposure to lead by removing it from drinking water.

The best and most effective way of dealing with lead in drinking water is to replace all pipes and all lead plumbing delivering water to drinking points.

You should never drink water from any tap except a Mains tap; nearly always the Kitchen cold tap.

The Drinking Water regulations say that a homeowner is responsible for the maintenance and replacement of water pipes within the boundary of the property.

Health Risks

Continued exposure to low levels of lead can affect the brain development of children. It is a particular problem for the unborn, for bottle-fed babies, and children up to the age of five years.

Lead exposure can also cause kidney problems, increased blood pressure, liver damage, reproductive toxicity and gastrointestinal problems.