Lead in old water pipes: how to tell and what to do

Mains water in Belgium is monitored and, as Brussels Environment points out, it contains in principle no lead. The problem lies further along: water can pick up lead from a lead service connection or pipe just before it reaches the tap. The good news: it can be found, it can be replaced, and a few habits limit exposure in the meantime.

According to the Flemish government, lead water pipes were installed in many buildings up to 1970, and lead was also used for joints, connections and other parts. Brussels Environment reports that lead connections are still present in older private homes built before 1960. Only the pipes that bring water in are a concern: lead drain pipes have no impact on the quality of tap water.

Look at the pipe where it is exposed: near the water meter and under the kitchen sink. A lead pipe is grey, while copper is red, brown or light green. If it is painted, lightly scratch the paint with a nail. A magnet will not stick to lead: if it sticks, it is not lead. Tapped with a metal object, the pipe gives a dull sound. Lead pipes are often thick and winding. If in doubt, have a professional check it.

The Flemish government puts it this way: lead is toxic, it builds up in the body and attacks the nervous system, and other health effects are possible. Pregnant women, babies and young children are particularly at risk, and even small amounts of lead can cause harm.

Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption sets a parametric value for lead of 10 µg/l until 12 January 2036 at the latest; after that, the value of 5 µg/l must be met, at least at the point of supply to the domestic distribution system. The directive notes that lead pipes in homes remain a persistent problem and asks Member States to take measures to replace lead components in domestic installations where economically and technically feasible. In Wallonia, the decree of 20 April 2023 amending the Water Code partially transposes the directive. In Flanders, tap water may contain no more than 10 µg of lead per litre since 2014.

In Wallonia, the general water distribution regulation defines the service connection as the pipe running from the main up to and including the water meter: it belongs to the distributor, which is responsible for it and maintains it, and owners may not alter it themselves. Since 1 January 2022, a lead connection on a supplier’s network is prohibited if the lead standard is not met at the meter, unless it has been internally lined. In Brussels, Vivaqua has been replacing the lead connections on its network since 2003. In Flanders, if the connection before the meter is still lead, contact your water company (De Watergroep, Farys, Water-link…): it is the water company that replaces it.

After the meter, the installation is private: replacing it is the owner’s responsibility. The Walloon regulation strongly advises against lead pipes in indoor installations. In Flanders, lead pipes are not allowed in rented homes, and the landlord must have them replaced.

Do not drink water that has stood in the pipes overnight or during a long absence.

In the morning and when you come back, run the tap before using the water for food or drink: a few minutes according to Brussels Environment, two minutes according to the Flemish government.

That first water need not be wasted: use it for the shower, cleaning or flushing the toilet.

Then fill a jug with drinking water for the rest of the day.

Cook and make coffee or tea with cold tap water, never with hot tap water.

Do not use tap water to prepare baby bottles.

Until a full renovation, consider having a new temporary pipe laid to the tap you drink from.

A test at the tap can settle a doubt. For lead monitoring, the European directive actually specifies that the sample is taken at the consumer’s tap without running the water first. In Wallonia, the SWDE laboratory also analyses tap water; elsewhere, ask your water company or a laboratory. A test does not replace the work, though: if lead pipes are present, the Flemish government recommends replacing them as soon as possible.

The Flemish government recommends replacing lead pipes with copper or plastic. The European directive points out that repair or renovation work is the right moment, using materials that meet the requirements for drinking water. Replacing only the private pipes and not the connection, or the other way round, leaves lead in the water’s path: it is better to coordinate both.

We work throughout Belgium on the private installation, after the meter. We trace lead pipes from the meter to the taps, replace them with pipes suitable for drinking water and, if the connection is still lead, we explain the steps to take with your water company so that both jobs follow on from each other. Any questions? Call +32 4 325 10 02.