The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000

Contamination from pipes

30.—(1) Where there is a risk (“the prescribed risk”) that water supplied by a water undertaker would, for the reason mentioned in paragraph (2), after leaving the undertaker’s pipes—

(a) contain a concentration of copper in excess of 2mg/litre; or

(b) contain a concentration of lead in excess of 10μg/litre,

the water undertaker shall, subject to paragraph (3), treat the water in such a way as will, in its opinion, eliminate the prescribed risk or reduce it to a minimum.

(2) The reason referred to in paragraph (1) is the presence in the water of a concentration of copper or lead which is attributable to the fact that copper or lead is the major component of such a pipe as is mentioned in section 68(3)(a) of the Act, or its associated fittings.

(3) Paragraph (1) shall not require an undertaker to treat water—

(a) if the treatment is unlikely to achieve a significant reduction in the concentration of copper or lead; or

(b) if treatment is not reasonably practicable.

(4) Where at any time in the period beginning with 25th December 2003 and ending immediately before 25th December 2013, a water undertaker—

(a) has reason to believe that water supplied by it for regulation 4 purposes from a pipe to which paragraph (5) applies contains, at the consumer’s tap, a concentration of lead which exceeds 10μg/1 but does not exceed 25μg/1; and

(b) has received from the owner of premises to which water is so supplied notice in writing—

(i) of the owner’s intention to replace so much of the pipe as belongs to him; and

(ii) of his desire that the water undertaker replaces the remainder of the pipe,

the water undertaker shall modify or replace its part of the pipe.

(5) This paragraph applies to a pipe—

(a) of which the major component is lead;

(b) which is subject to water pressure from a water main or would be so subject but for the closing of some valve; and

(c) which belongs, as to part, to a water undertaker and, as to the remainder, to the owner of any premises to which the undertaker supplies water for regulation 4 purposes.