Be water wise. Working together for a healthy, caring Scotland

Transcription

1 Be water wise Don t run the risk Run the tap Working together for a healthy, caring Scotland

2 What is the problem? Although public mains water supplies in Scotland do not contain significant levels of lead, lead in water can still be a problem in some houses. Where there is a problem, it is almost always because lead from pipes, or solder joints or storage tanks dissolves into the water. An excessive amount of lead can dissolve into water if it stands still for more than a few hours in lead pipes or pipes that have lead solder joints. Even if you live in a new house with copper pipes, lead could have been used to seal the joint, even though that is contrary to water byelaws.

3 What are the risks? The human body absorbs lead easily from drinking water. If young children drink water with increased levels of lead over a long period it can have a negative effect on their intellectual development, possibly causing behavioural problems or learning difficulties. Bottle-fed babies absorb much more lead than adults, because their intake of water through formula milk is so high. What can I do to protect myself and my family? There are simple, practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

4 Only use water from the kitchen cold tap for drinking and cooking Never use water from a hot tap for drinking or cooking, even if the water has been boiled. Water from a hot tap anywhere in the house has been standing in a storage tank. That means there could be a higher risk of it containing lead or bacteria. Run water for a minute before drinking or cooking if the tap hasn t been used for a few hours The water from the kitchen cold tap usually comes directly from the mains. It is important when the tap has not been used for a few hours, or overnight, to run it first. This ensures that the water you consume has not had time to absorb any lead in the pipework. You should always run water for a minute if the tap hasn t been used for a few hours whether you live in an old or new house, even if you think there is no lead in the pipes or plumbing.

5 Try to make sure that children spit out water when brushing their teeth As long as your children spit out water after brushing their teeth, they can use water from a bathroom tap. If you have young children, you should take water from the mains kitchen cold tap unless you can be really sure they won t swallow water from the bathroom tap. Don t worry if children swallow small amounts of water by accident when they are in the bath or shower. Take care with bottle-fed babies Always use the mains kitchen cold tap and always run the water for a minute, if the tap hasn t been used for a few hours, before preparing formula milk. Some bottled waters contain a high level of minerals. They should not be used to make up feeds. Always check or seek advice. If you are worried, you should always speak to your health visitor or contact your GP.

6 What should I do if I think I have lead solder or piping in the house? If you have a new house, you can ask the builder whether or not lead solder has been used on the joints of copper pipes. It is difficult and expensive to replace all lead solder joints in your house and there are no grants available for the work. If lead solder has been used on pipes in breach of water byelaws, you may want to consider taking legal advice about the remedies available to you. If you live in an older house with lead pipes and tanks, your local council may be able to give you a grant towards the replacement work. Normally, a house must be over 10 years old to qualify for a grant. Your council can apply to the Scottish Executive to have this requirement waived in exceptional cases.

7 If you decide to have your tap water tested, you should apply to your local council s Environmental Health Department or your local water authority. They will tell you if the lead level is over the current maximum allowed. They will give you advice on what steps to take, although this is likely to be only for the mains cold tap. Today, the UK Water Quality regulations allow a maximum level of 50 micrograms of lead per litre of water. In 2003, this will be lowered to 25 micrograms per litre, and in 2013 it will be cut to 10 micrograms per litre. If you would like any more information about the water supplied to your home please contact your water authority. East of Scotland Water Authority Customer Services 55 Buckstone Terrace Edinburgh EH10 6XH tel North of Scotland Water Authority Cairngorm House Beechwood Park North Inverness IV2 3ED tel West of Scotland Water Authority 419 Balmore Road Glasgow G22 6NU tel

8 Be water wise Be water wise Don t run the risk. Run the tap. only use water from the kitchen cold tap for drinking and cooking run the tap for a minute if it hasn t been used for a few hours always spit out water when brushing teeth take extra care with babies and young children This leaflet is available free of charge in Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Arabic, Chinese, Gaelic, Braille and on audio tape by phoning w w w. s c o t l a n d. g o v. u k