North Shields dad Luke Leighton highlights the importance of checking your home for lead piping, the associated risks and how Kurek Utilities can help you protect your family
The #LeadFreeWater campaign was created by North East–based Kurek Utilities to raise awareness around lead water pipes and help homeowners better understand their water supply.
This article is part of a paid partnership raising awareness around lead water pipes. All content is written in line with I Love North Shields’ editorial values and focuses on providing clear, useful information for our community.
Many homes built before the 1970s may still be connected to lead water pipes — a legacy of construction practices from a time when the health risks of lead were not fully understood.
Lead is a toxic metal. Health authorities link long-term exposure to a range of risks, including effects on pregnancy, brain development in children, and cumulative health impacts in later life. Because of this, the use of lead in water systems was phased out decades ago.
Despite this, national bodies including the Drinking Water Inspectorate and UK health authorities acknowledge that a significant number of UK homes — particularly older properties — may still contain lead supply pipes or internal plumbing. This is more common in areas with historic housing stock, such as many towns and communities across the North East.
For local families, this is not a reason for alarm, but an opportunity to be informed.
Why lead pipes are often overlooked
One of the reasons lead pipes remain an issue is simply that they are difficult to see. Water supply pipes are commonly buried beneath gardens, driveways, or floors, meaning they can go unnoticed for decades — even in homes that have otherwise been modernised.
People often update kitchens, bathrooms, boilers, and electrics as standard, but the incoming water supply pipe is rarely visible and therefore easy to overlook.
This means a home can appear fully up to date while still being supplied by an older lead pipe.
Who is responsible?
In most cases, UK water companies supply water that meets strict quality standards. Where lead is present, it usually enters the water through older private supply pipes or internal plumbing within the property itself.
As a result, responsibility for identifying and replacing lead pipework typically sits with the homeowner, rather than the water company.
Raising awareness locally
The #LeadFreeWater campaign was created by North East–based Kurek Utilities to raise awareness around lead water pipes and help homeowners better understand their water supply.
The campaign has grown out of years of on-site experience, where lead pipes were still being found in properties whose owners were often unaware they existed.
Rather than encouraging panic, the focus is on information — helping people understand what to look for, why it matters, and what options are available.
Understanding the options
For many homeowners, the idea of replacing a water supply pipe can feel daunting. There is a common assumption that the process will be highly disruptive, complex, or unaffordable.
In reality, replacement is often more straightforward than expected, particularly when approached in a planned way. Removing lead pipework is also recognised as the most effective and permanent way to reduce exposure where lead is present.
Temporary measures — such as briefly flushing taps after periods of non-use or using certified water filters — can help reduce lead levels in the short term. However, these do not remove the source of the issue itself.
An informed approach
Understanding what lies beneath an older home is part of understanding the building as a whole — just as people do with electrics, heating systems, or roofing.
For homeowners living in pre-1970 properties who want to learn more about lead pipes, how to identify them, or what steps can be taken if they are present, clear guidance and further information is available via the #LeadFreeWater campaign.
Learn more about the Lead Free Water campaign and book your free survey here at www.leadfreewater.co.uk or get in touch by calling 0333 207 0475 or emailing info@leadfreewater.co.uk.
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