Lead pipe replacement scheme

To confirm if you have lead pipework and if you’re on a shared supply, you’ll need to check your supply pipe. To do this, check your stop valve outside of your property. You're likely on a separate supply if you have a stop valve and your neighbours have one. If there is one, but your neighbours don't have one, you can share a supply. In front of your property if there is no outside stop valve, you may be sharing a supply with your neighbours. If you're not sure on your supply, speak to your plumber or call us on 0800 316 9800.

You can contact us on 0800 009 3921 to discuss moving to a single supply. We do not offer services to separate supplies under this scheme.

Check your earthing

You'll need to check your earthing if you answer yes to any of the following:

• You have a lead supply pipe
• The supply is single or shared with a neighbour
• You know where your OSV is
• Your house was built before 1966

If you’re unsure how to check your earthing, contact your electricity supplier or a qualified electrician.

You’ll need to decide whether to use an independent plumber or an approved plumber and get quotes.

Independent plumber

If you use an independent plumber, the pipe laid within the open trench must be inspected by Thames Water. This must be done before burying. You will need to arrange the survey either by calling or emailing us.

Approved plumber

An approved plumber will issue a certificate about the work they carried out. No open trench inspection is required, but you will need to email us the certificate. View a list of WaterSafe approved plumbers. 

You can apply for the lead replacement scheme if you:

• Have a property built before 1970
• Suspect you have lead supply pipework
• Are not aware of Thames Water replacing comms pipe
• Will bring the pipe to current outside stop valve/ property boundary. This must be in line with the current outside stop valve
• Have located your outside stop valve and confirmed the supply arrangement
• Are planning to replace your lead supply pipe within the next 3 months. You'll need to submit a new application if it's after 3 months
• Have decided on whether to use an approved or independent plumber
• Can supply photographic evidence the pipe has been replaced in the past

To apply, please fill in our online lead pipe replacement scheme form.

After applying make sure you read all the guidance sent in the email and focus on:

• Meeting all the water regulations requirements
• Shared supply options
• Meeting the minimal distances between other utility services within the same trench
• Bringing the pipe to the current outside stop valve 
• Laying the pipe via vault and tunnelling the pipe underneath the brick wall. Please take into account the timeline for this
• Sending the plumber a copy of the guidance  

If using an approved plumber, please email a copy of the certificate they have issued you. For independent plumbers, call us on 0800 316 9800 to arrange an inspection. Please only do this once you're ready and the pipe is laid within an open trench/a vault.

Meet water regulations

You will need to comply with the below to pass a reconnection survey:

• Fitted 25mm pipe or like-for-like replacement
• Trench dug to a depth minimum of 750mm and max of 1350mm
• Fitted an approved inside stop valve
• Insulated and ducted the pipe at point of entry (and laid in min 750mm)
• Fitted an approved drain valve upstream from inside the stop valve
• Ducted or laid pipe in the trench in soft material
• Laid the pipe in line with the outside stop valve with enough excess to reach it
• Tunneled the pipe running underneath the brick wall (fence)

For pipes running via basement/vault, the customer is responsible for wall breakthroughs.

Once the certificate and reconnection survey has passed and you've qualified, the engineer will:

• Investigate and trace our communications pipe 
• Mark the road and pavement
• Raise the task for its replacement with a new 25mm plastic pipe

The task will be passed to our planning and operational teams to ensure that the work is planned in. Our planning team will need to organise permits to work and traffic management. Once permits and traffic management are approved, the day can be planned in. The reinstatement works usually take place within two working days after the replacement.

What you can do  

If you had an excavated trench, it can now be backfilled. Until work is complete, flush the cold kitchen tap for approximately two minutes before using. This should clear any water that has been standing in the lead pipework. You can then use your cold kitchen tap as normal for drinking and cooking.  

Completing the replacement

We'll aim to complete the replacement within three months from qualifying. The replacement is complete once the communication pipe and road have been reinstated. On the first day after the replacement is complete, run all taps used for drinking or cooking for 10 minutes. This includes water fountains. 

If the survey was not passed, please follow the instructions the engineer provided. We also go through what happens next in our guidance email. Without a passed survey or certificate from an approved plumber, you can't qualify.

Please call us on 0800 316 9800 if you would like to cancel the replacement.