Our Customer Guide to Replacing Lead Pipes

We have created this guide to provide you with support and guidance if you are concerned about having lead pipes and/or considering getting your pipes replaced.

We will outline our responsibility before, during and after your lead pipes are replaced.

Exclusion for the free lead pipe replacements

There are several exclusions that will prevent you from qualifying for a free connection.

Please review and ensure these don’t apply to you before starting work:

The existing service pipe is not lead.
We have no occupier account for the property.
If your new supply pipe is connected to the original lead service.
Maximum size service pipe to be installed by Severn Trent is 25mm.
The connection is required in a different position to the original company owned service pipe ( if this is a single or shared lead supply pipe, you must obtain further guidance from Severn Trent).
The building is undergoing renovation by a developer, or the building is undergoing a change of use.
You are a business.
If the new service pipe has been laid dormant for period longer than 12 months.
If your account is in arrears.
If you have not contacted Severn Trent before carrying out any works to see if you were eligible for the free scheme.

When applying for the free lead replacement scheme, it's imperative we know if you are on a single or shared supply, this is so we can give you the correct information. If at any point Severn Trent discover that this information is incorrect, additional work will be required. If, after work begins, we find that a property is being, or has been, substantially altered from its original form and we have not been made aware of this (e.g. a large house being changed into multiple dwellings), you may incur subsequent costs as a result.

Any property being substantially altered will need to make an application through our new connections team.

Should this happen, we would advise you of any accrued costs to date and to stop any further work before more costs are accumulated and further work is agreed.

For information, please read our Scheme of Charges.

Why you should change your lead pipes

If your house was built before 1970 there’s a chance your property will have lead pipes.

It has been found that lead can seep in and contaminate your drinking water which over a long period of time can be harmful.

It is the responsibility of the homeowner to replace their lead pipes. Whilst it is not a legal requirement to have your lead pipes replaced we want to make sure everyone in our region is using safe and modern pipes.

How to check if your pipes are lead

To check if you have lead pipes, you will need to:

Find where the mains water pipe enters your property (it’s usually under your kitchen sink, in the downstairs toilet or under the stairs).
Scrape the pipe gently with a coin. If you see a shiny, silver-coloured metal underneath it potentially could be a lead pipe.

It is important to note that if the metal is shiny it does not necessarily mean that it is lead – it could be galvanised iron. This can be verified by using a magnet, as a magnet will not attract lead.

Scratching lead pipes can sometimes produce small amounts of lead dust. Lead dust can be harmful if breathed in, so please use gloves, a face mask and eye protection if you carry out this pipe test.

How to reduce lead in your drinking water

The only way to completely remove lead from your water is to have your lead pipes replaced. Until you are able to get your pipes replaced, below are a few ways to mitigate the effects of lead in your water.

When you wake up in the morning, run the cold tap in the kitchen to flush out any water that has been standing in the pipes overnight. You can always use this water for your plants.
Flush the toilet this will also clear any water that has been standing in the pipes overnight.
Try not to disturb or knock lead pipes as this can increase the lead in your water.
The best way to rid your home of lead is to replace your lead water pipes, including your underground supply pipe.

Who owns which pipes

Once a supply pipe crosses a highway boundary, it then becomes the responsibility of the home owner. Whether that’s onto the owner’s property or third party land.

If you are looking to replace your lead pipes you will be required to change the pipes you are responsible for. We will then replace our lead pipes.

Deciding to replace your lead pipes

To get the application process started please contact our dedicated team on 0800 917 2477 or send an email to vftenquiries@severntrent.co.uk.

Our team are available:

Monday to Friday: 8am to 10pm

Saturday: 8am to 4pm

Sunday: 8am to 3:30pm

Call

Email

Replacing your lead pipes

Step 1 - Contact and Guidance

Our dedicated team will guide you through the process from start to finish.

They will offer to video call you to help determine whether you would benefit from the lead replacement scheme. During this call they will ask to see your pipes so they can confirm they are lead. They will also ask questions such as the age of the property, who the bill payer is and whether you are on a single or shared supply.

Once we have confirmed your pipes are lead we will send you some information about next steps and what you will need to do before we can get started.

If you cannot complete a video call, or we have further queries we will organise someone to come and have a look at the earliest opportunity. However, this may delay the process in getting your pipes replaced.

Contact our team

Step 2 - Choosing your plumber

Throughout steps 2 and 3 you will continue to be fed by your existing supply (you should not disconnect from this until the new supply is connected).

It will only be when we do our connection that you will be temporarily without water. For more questions about this please contact our specialist team on 0800 917 2477 and they can support you with any queries you may have.

During the initial assessment our video call team will advise whether you are on a shared or single supply this will affect which plumber you can employ to do the work for you. Should you be on a shared supply you will be required to use an approved plumber who is a member of the following approval boards:

If you are on a single supply you can use any plumber of your choosing. However, we would still advise you to use an approved plumber from one of the above boards.

Your plumber will then be required to install the pipework within your boundary. All pipework should comply with the current Water Supply Regulations 1999.

Once this work is completed by your plumber call us on 0800 917 2477, we will want to carry out a video call with you to confirm all work is complete. If video call is not an option we will send someone out to complete this inspection.

From Step 3 it can take up to 90 days for completion.

Step 3 - Connection

When we replace our pipes and reconnect your pipes to the mains it could mean we have to shut your road.

If we do need to shut the road it can take 120 days to receive permission from the council.

However if road closure is not required we will aim to be out with you within 21 days. If there are any issues we will keep you updated.

Step 4 - Disconnection

If you’re on your own supply (single supply) we’ll disconnect your old supply when we complete the new connection.

However please always instruct your plumber to complete your internal pipe work connection and reconnection.

If you are on a shared or common supply, your plumber will need to complete the disconnection from the shared supply where it joins to the shared section of the main supply pipe.

A certificate of the work will be required from your plumber and we will instruct them to send this information to our dedicated lead replacement team, within 5 days of job completion, they can do this by emailing the certificate to vftenquiries@severntrent.co.uk.

Step 5 - Getting back to normal

Once the reconnection to the network, is complete, we’ll be back within 3 working days to patch up any holes and clear barriers from site (please note that this is working days).

Tell your neighbours you're getting your lead pipes replaced

We would always support telling your neighbours about having any works done on your water and sewerage pipes.

Most of our network is made up of homes on shared supplies – this means what you do to your water pipes may affect others in your street.

If you are on a shared supply, your plumber is responsible for giving your neighbours information about what the process is and the potential impact it could have on their water quality and pressure.

How we can provide you with long term support

We understand that sometimes you or your family need long term support.

We are able to offer you tailored support when you join our Priority Services Register.

This is a free service and means we can learn a bit more about you and help us understand your specific needs.

Our Priority Service Register is here to support all, whether you or your family member are facing ill-health, financial worries, language barriers, physical or psychological ill-health.

We are here to try and provide some support to you and your family during that period.

Customer guide PDF

For more information about the lead replacement scheme you can download our customer guide.

Download a PDF of our customer guide

To register or for more information

If you have further questions or would like to register for the lead replacement scheme, contact our dedicated team. Call on 0800 917 2477 or email vftenquiries@severntrent.co.uk.