Lambeth residents told to run taps to remove lead from drinking water

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents have hit out at a council after it told them to run their taps to remove lead from drinking water.

Lambeth council made the suggestion in a letter telling families in Dorchester Court that it no longer felt there was a risk to their health and safety.

The local authority handed the estate’s owner and managing agent an improvement notice in March 2022, after dangerous levels of lead were found in residents’ drinking water.

MyLondon reported at the time that 60 of the 96 flats on the estate tested positive for dangerous levels of lead in the water.

A total of 40 of the flats had lead levels above the legal limit and residents said were forced to drink bottled water for six weeks.

Exposure to lead can be especially harmful to unborn babies and young children.

The improvement notice served by the council on Dorchester Court’s then owner Heinrich Feldman, and managing agent Property Partners, ordered them to ensure people had access to safe drinking water within four months.

Since then residents have had lead filters fitted to their taps but they are still waiting for the pipes to be replaced.

Lucy McGarry, who moved into Dorchester Court two months ago, said the situation was unacceptable.

The 24-year-old said: “It’s appalling. I moved in two months ago but we were never told about the lead issue and I never googled the place. It’s all well and good telling people to flush out the lead but with the cost of living going up you can’t expect everyone to be able to run the taps.”

Lambeth Council has said it is working with the freeholder – a company previously owned by Mr Feldman who died in March – and Thames Water to have the lead pipes removed.

In a letter that residents received last week, the council informed them they were removing the improvement notice following an appeal from the estate’s freeholder.

The council said it agreed it was “appropriate” to revoke the notice due to the works carried out at Dorchester Court since it was issued.

The letter dated August 16 reads: “The council has reviewed its position and determined that it is appropriate to revoke the Improvement Notice […] We however continue to encourage residents to follow flushing advice: When water has been standing overnight for long periods in the pipework, flush the cold kitchen tap for approximately two minutes before using for cooking or drinking. This should clear any water that has been standing in the lead pipework.”

Lambeth Council said: “We have been working with the freeholder over many months to resolve the lead issue and other problems at Dorchester Court. We remain committed to supporting residents to resolve all the ongoing issues at the estate.

“We will contact the freeholder and managing agent to get an update on the renewal of the filters that have been fitted. We will be monitoring the position closely and shall work with the freeholder, Thames Water and others to secure the safe and timely removal of the offending lead pipes.”

Property Partners has been contacted for comment.

Picture top: Dorchester Court in Lambeth (Picture: Robert Firth)