The Ministry of Housing is following the Health Council’s advice from 2019 to ban lead pipes in schools, rental homes and childcare centers. It ruled that lead in drinking water is harmful when used daily, especially for babies and young children. It is not yet known when the ban will come into effect, Minister De Jonge of Wonen lets in a letter to parliament know.
De Jonge does not opt for a general ban. According to him, owner-occupiers are sufficiently informed about the risks of lead pipes, even emphatically at the time of purchase. According to the minister, this group has its own responsibility when it comes to clean drinking water and the replacement of lead pipes.
self-finding
According to De Jonge, municipalities have indicated that a ban can help to force landlords to remediate lead pipes. Several municipalities have been struggling with lead drinking water pipes for some time, especially in rented houses, but they were left empty-handed due to the lack of a ban.
In 2020 the five largest cities called for a ban. But the then minister Ollongren did not like that, because that would lead to forced extra costs for owners and would be difficult to maintain. That is why the municipality of Amsterdam decided last year, when it turned out that few landlords took action to replace the pipes, or to trace the lead pipes themselves.
Good news
The problem with these pipes is greatest in Amsterdam. Stand there 70,000 homes from the construction period in which lead pipes were laid.
The Amsterdam alderman for Housing Jakob Wedemeijer (SP) is therefore happy with the ban. “After more than two years of fighting against lead pipes and many requests to the government, our new minister is now introducing a ban on rental homes. With this we can finally force all landlords to remove lead pipes. What good news for all tenants and everyone who has fought for healthy drinking water in recent years.”
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