Blei im Trinkwasser – ein altes Problem, eine neue EU-Richtlinie

BACKGROUND: Lead pipes have been used in drinking water installations for a long time. Only since 1973 have their use in new buildings been strongly discouraged; nevertheless, they are still found in old buildings. Furthermore, lead-containing alloys are still used today in components such as fittings. This results in an avoidable pollution of drinking water. The health significance of this pollution is acknowledged by a reduction of the currently valid limit value from 10 µg/l to 5 µg/l by the new EU drinking water directive passed in 2020. This directive provides for a transition period of 15 years. OBJECTIVES: The relevance of a stricter limit value for lead in drinking water will be evaluated based by the results of routine analyses, and the necessary public health measures to prevent exposure of vulnerable groups will be formulated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of routine samples from the city of Bonn, which an accredited drinking water laboratory had examined in the years 1997–2019, was performed. RESULTS: Of the 16,060 samples analyzed, 75.36% were below the quantitative limit of quantification. The median of the quantifiable samples was above the future limit for lead in drinking water in each year considered. No effect of the last transition period of 10 years (2003–2013) could be detected. DISCUSSION: Even though no systematic studies on lead pollution in German municipalities are available, the subject is still highly topical. Lead exposure from drinking water installations is a completely avoidable health risk, but it can only be regulated by consistent enforcement of the applicable rules by the health authorities. The health authorities must be adequately equipped in terms of personnel, material, and financial resources.