What studies it has undertaken to ascertain the number of households that receive their public water supply through lead piping.

In order to determine the extent of the work required to meet the new standard for lead set in the EC Drinking Water Directive by the target date of December 2003, Scottish Water undertook a survey to determine the extent of the lead problem across Scotland. The results of the lead survey will be used to determine where water treatment measures are required to reduce the tendency for the water to dissolve lead from lead pipes.The survey was not designed to ascertain the number of households with lead plumbing but to identify water supply areas within which there was likely to be a significant number of properties with lead plumbing. By December 2003, around 25% of water supplies, covering about 75% of the population, will be treated to minimise the uptake of lead from lead pipes.