Do I have lead water pipes, and who pays to replace them in Scotland?
The short answer
If your home was built before 1970, it may have lead pipes. Lead pipes are dull grey, soft, and turn shiny silver when gently scratched. Scottish Water replaces lead pipes it owns, up to and including the boundary stopcock. The owner pays for the supply pipe into the home, but Glasgow City Council offers a grant of 50% of approved costs to replace it.
Key points
- Homes built before 1970 may have lead supply pipes, and many Glasgow tenements do.
- Scottish Water is responsible up to and including the stopcock at your boundary.
- The owner is responsible for the supply pipe into the property and the pipes inside.
- Glasgow City Council offers a 50% grant for owner-occupiers to replace lead supply pipes.
- Replacing the pipes is the only sure way to remove the risk.
How to tell if you have lead pipes
Find the pipe that brings cold water into your home, usually under the kitchen sink or near the internal stopcock. Lead pipes:
- Are a dull grey colour, and often look slightly bulbous or uneven.
- Are soft. Scratching gently with a coin reveals shiny silver metal.
- Are not magnetic.
- Have rounded, swollen joints rather than neat fittings.
Copper pipes are orange-brown, and plastic pipes are usually blue, black or white. Remember that lead may be hidden in walls, under floors or underground, even if the visible pipe is copper. Old lead solder on copper joints and some old brass fittings can also release lead.
Who is responsible for which pipe
| Pipe | Who is responsible |
|---|---|
| Water main in the street | Scottish Water |
| Communication pipe, up to and including the boundary stopcock | Scottish Water |
| Supply pipe from the boundary into your home | Property owner |
| Pipes and tanks inside your home | Property owner |
Glasgow City Council notes that Scottish Water will remove any lead pipes that belong to it. The council's grant does not cover replacing internal pipes alone if the external supply is still lead.
The Glasgow City Council lead pipe grant
Glasgow City Council offers a grant of 50% of approved costs to replace lead piping from the toby, the stopcock in the street, to the cold drinking water tap in the kitchen.
- Owner-occupiers automatically qualify for the 50% rate.
- Landlords may be offered grant at a lower rate.
- Tenement flats: the grant covers the common supply from the pavement into the close and the rising mains feeding each kitchen tap. The property factor usually gets quotes and coordinates the application, and each owner must complete a form and vote in favour.
- Terraced and semi-detached houses may share a supply, so neighbours need to be consulted and apply together.
Get quotes before applying, and do not start work until the council has approved the grant. Our ranked table of Glasgow plumbers is a good place to find firms to quote.
What to do in the meantime
- Use only water from the cold kitchen tap for drinking and cooking.
- Run the tap for a minute or two first thing in the morning, or after the water has been standing for a few hours.
- Do not use hot water from the tap for drinking or cooking.
- Ask Scottish Water for advice on testing.
- For health advice, especially for pregnant women and young children, see NHS inform.
Landlords and buyers
The Repairing Standard requires landlords to keep the water supply in a reasonable state of repair, and Scottish Water publishes guidance for landlords on lead. If you are buying an older flat, ask the seller or factor whether the supply has been replaced. Lead pipes are one of several checks worth making on an older property, alongside the electrical inspection and shared repair responsibilities.
Questions
Does Scottish Water replace lead pipes for free?
Scottish Water replaces lead pipes that it owns, up to and including the boundary stopcock. The supply pipe on your side is the owner's responsibility.
How much does it cost to replace a lead supply pipe?
It depends on the length of pipe, ground conditions and whether it is shared. Get quotes from plumbers, and apply for the Glasgow City Council grant, which covers 50% of approved costs for owner-occupiers.
Can a water filter remove lead?
Some filters are certified to reduce lead, but they are a short-term measure. Replacing the pipes is the only permanent solution.
Is lead in water a problem in Glasgow?
Glasgow City Council explains that lead is not a natural problem in Scottish water supplies. It comes from contact with lead pipes, tanks, solder and some fittings, especially when water stands for long periods.
Sources
- Glasgow City Council: National Lead in Drinking Water grant (opens in a new tab)
- Scottish Water: lead and your water (opens in a new tab)
- Scottish Water: landlord guidance on lead (opens in a new tab)
This guide is general information about Glasgow and Scotland, checked on 3 November 2026. Prices and rules change, so confirm anything important with the organisation named before you act.
