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Lead in drinking water
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
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From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
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In June 2015, the government published a national strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. The strategy aims to address a legacy issue of public exposure to lead. Lead piping and plumbing was commonly used in houses built up to and including the 1970s and remains a potential source of lead. Long-term exposure to lead can cause adverse health effects. Infants, young children and pregnant women are most at risk from the health effects of lead in drinking water.
The government’s strategy contains a range of actions to:
Progress on the strategy will be monitored and reviewed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Health.
In order to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, a grant scheme to assist low-income households with the costs of replacing lead pipes and fittings within their homes is now available. The new grant scheme has been established in line with the National Lead Strategy approved by Government in 2015. The principal features of the grant scheme are as follows:
Full details of the grant scheme, including eligibility criteria are included in the Domestic Lead Remediation (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 56 of 2016).
The department has published a combined information leaflet and application form and an information leaflet on how to apply for the grant.
It has also published a technical guidance note for homeowners on the replacement of water-supply pipes made of lead.
For information on the health effects of lead and advice on lead in drinking water - see HSE’s ‘Lead in Drinking Water – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), May 2015
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