The flats are among the millions of homes built before the 1970s in the UK that still run their water through lead pipes despite the health risks, particularly for young children. Freeholder Manaquel and manager Property Partners rejected an appeal earlier this year by the local council to urgently replace old lead pipes that are poisoning the water on the south London estate. Lambeth Council has since written to residents of Dorchester Court warning them they should turn on their taps for two minutes to flush the contamination from the pipes. Tests by the council earlier this year found lead contamination levels in more than half of the estate’s flats were above legal levels and drinking water in at least 60 flats was at risk.
Lower children’s IQ
Lead poisoning can lower children’s IQ and cause increased antisocial behavior, as well as cause miscarriage and increased blood pressure in adults, according to the World Health Organization, which says there is no known safe level of lead in the blood. Earlier this year, Lambeth Council withdrew its request for Manaquel and Property Partners to replace lead pipes to make drinking water safe by July. The decision came after the freeholder said it would eventually replace the pipes during upcoming work on the flats and install lead filters in the affected flats. Meanwhile, the council told residents they should still turn on their taps to flush out lead toxins based on advice from Public Health England. Property Partners, the managers of landlord Manaquel, said further sampling of the drinking water in 21 of the flats was carried out earlier this month, which found the lead content had been significantly reduced by the filters. They added that chemical analysis showed compliance with water supply regulations and said none of the residents should be concerned about the water quality in Dorchester Court. Although an estimated six million to nine million homes in the UK are supplied by lead pipes, most are not at risk of poisoning because the water is filled with orthophosphates which prevent the toxins from leaching out. Properties in London are also protected from hard water, which acts as a barrier in pipes. But a change in water supply, disruptions such as building work or even heavy traffic can cause dangerous levels of lead to wash into the water, said Tim Pye, of the Lead Exposure and Poisoning Prevention Alliance, a campaign group. He warned that many more properties in the area could be at risk because the water is not regularly tested. “No one seems to know exactly why half the flats in Dorchester Court had elevated lead levels in their water,” he said. The UK has set safe lead concentration levels at 10 micrograms per liter and does not intend to follow a recent decision by the European Union to halve the standard to 5 mcg per litre.
Prohibited in new developments
Lead water pipes have been banned in new developments since 1969, but there is no legal requirement to replace them. Homeowners and landlords are responsible for the pipes on the property, while water companies are expected to pay to replace any pipes beyond that. Lambeth Council said: “We will be monitoring the position closely and remain committed to resolving the issues at Dorchester Court. “Our priority is the safety of residents and we are working with the freeholder, Thames Water and others to ensure the safe and timely removal of offending lead pipes. “The Public Health message to residents is to follow the flushing advice, even with filters in place. Thames Water has previously confirmed that the filters appear to help reduce lead levels in the water, but this is not a long-term solution and the flushing advice still applies regardless.’ Thames Water said: “Water quality and public health is always a top priority and a matter we take extremely seriously. We have been working with Lambeth Council regarding Dorchester Court since the matter was brought to our attention in February. The council took samples from flats on the property which showed a slightly higher level of lead. We sent our engineers to further investigate where they took more samples and provided guidance to residents. “Investigations to confirm the presence of lead pipes are ongoing with Thames Water working closely with the site owners/operators. We confirm that any lead pipes under our responsibility will be replaced.”
