Lead pipe replacement

• Fill out a lead replacement form online or call the New Supplies team on 0345 602 8022 to complete over the phone.
  

Current demand for appointments
We're currently experiencing a higher than usual number of applications for our lead replacement scheme. As a result, the earliest survey appointments we can offer are from the end of October 2026 onwards. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we work through this increased demand.

Applications are processed in the order they are received, and we'll contact you as soon as an appointment becomes available.

• Once we've received your completed application, we'll contact you to arrange an initial survey of your property. We aim to book this within four working weeks, with appointments normally taking place within eight weeks of receiving your application.

• During the survey, one of our engineers will discuss your project with you, explain any requirements, and confirm whether your pipework qualifies for our free lead replacement scheme.

• You will need to arrange for your own contractor to complete the private side of the work as discussed with our Network Site Agent.

• You will need to take photos of the work your contractor is doing as you go along, so that you can submit images to newsupplies@bristolwater.co.uk when you’re ready for connection. You can find a list of the specific photos we require further down the page.

• Once you’ve submitted photos our engineer will review them within five working days and confirm if it’s passed its final inspection.

• We’ll then raise the job for connection and our planning team who will be in touch with a planned date so that you can arrange for your plumber to be onsite on the day of connection to connect your internal pipework over to our existing pipework. Please ensure this isn’t done before we’ve been to do our work as you will leave yourself without any water. Due to the high demand of Lead Replacements in our area our current lead time for connection is 6 months.

• As part of our lead replacement works, we will fit a water meter in a boundary box in the public highway. This will make it even easier for you to switch. 9 out of 10 customers who choose to have a meter on average save £94. Please be aware, if you’re not currently on a meter there will no change to your current billing arrangements (unless you request to switch, or you’ve recently moved and are having a meter fitted as part of the change of occupier scheme). You can still use this meter though to look at how much water you’re using and monitor for leaks that otherwise might go undetected.

• Please email newsupplies@bristolwater.co.uk advising you are ready for connection to be made and include photos of the following requirements:

• Internal photo showing pipework, 1.5mm blue trace wire, suitable insulation and stop tap in position.

• Point of entry. Clear photo showing the finished floor level (external) confirming the pipe is at a depth of 750mm of cover inside a 100mm (min) duct. Please use a tape measure in the photo to demonstrate the correct depth.

• Photo of trenching. Showing pipework at 750mm of cover, 1.5mm blue trace wire and bed and surround, if requested. Please use a tape measure in the photo to demonstrate the correct depth.

• Pipework at highway boundary. Showing depth at boundary, brought to agreed connection point (X mark) and pipework sealed.

• One overall photo of the site taken from the boundary. If you are upgrading your supply, or separating from an existing supply and currently have an internal meter, a photo of the meter clearly showing the meter reading.

• Our Network Site Agent (NSA) will review the photos and if they feel a site visit is necessary, one of our team will contact you to book an appointment. If we’re able to sign your job off with the photos you’ve provided, we will do so and no visit will be needed. Once signed off, your job will be passed to our planning team to get you a connection date.