Plumber of the Year takes lead-free solder pledge

Louchavan Lemard, the UK's first-ever Plumber of the Year and co-founder of London-based PH247, has signed WaterSafe Register's lead-free solder pledge, committing to use only lead-free solder on drinking water pipework.

Although 99.97% of drinking water samples in England and Wales met the required standard in 2025, plumbing within properties accounted for more than a third of water-quality events.

Lead solder is legal for closed-circuit heating systems but not for drinking water plumbing, creating a risk of accidental misuse when both types are carried.

Research by WaterSafe Register found 93% of plumbers surveyed always or sometimes carry lead solder, compared with 17% of WaterSafe-registered plumbers. Registered plumbers were more likely to always carry lead-free solder (87% versus 53%) and to understand the health risks of lead solder in drinking water systems (98% versus 77%).

Lemard said: "There is no place for lead in a potable water system. It directly affects the safety of our drinking water, so that is a public health issue, not a technical preference. For me, prevention is better than cure, and removing avoidable risks at source is exactly what good plumbing should be about."

The pledge forms part of WaterSafe Register's activity for International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (18-24 October), whose 2026 theme is 'From Detection to Prevention'.

Jonathan Samuel, managing director of WaterSafe Register, said: "Plumbers are on the front line of protecting drinking water quality. Commitments like this show households and businesses that qualified professionals take prevention, compliance and public health seriously."

Householders can find a qualified, approved plumber at www.watersafe.org.uk.

Find out more about lead-free solder at www.watersafe.org.uk/lead-free.