Publication
Lead in drinking water
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
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, and in line with the Government national strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, the Domestic Lead Remediation Grant Scheme was introduced. The scheme was introduced to assist households with the costs of replacing lead piping or related fittings located within the internal distribution system connected to a domestic water supply that serves a house.
The scope of the grant and relevant definitions are as detailed in the Housing (Domestic Lead Remediation Grant) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 519 of 2022), which shall come into operation on 1st December 2022.
The scheme will continue to be administered by the local authorities on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
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