To prevent contamination of plastic pipework, immediately clean up any chemical spillages, such as petrol or heating oil, on your property. For further advice contact your local authority Environmental Health Officer.
In the majority of modern houses, the pipework that connects the property to the water main in the highway will be made of plastic (typically medium density polyethylene). This material is used due to its flexibility and resistance to leaks.
If plastic pipework has been used, extreme care must be taken regarding spillages of fuels. Fuels such as heating oil, paint thinners, petrol and diesel, contain hydrocarbons, which can permeate plastic pipework, leading to unpleasant tastes and odours. Once pipework becomes contaminated by hydrocarbons, the only solution is to completely replace it with either a metal or barrier pipe.
If you become aware of a spillage of fuel, for example if you notice an oily patch on the driveway or in the garage, or have a spillage of heating oil, we advise you to contact you local authority’s Environmental Health Team as soon as possible. Local authorities will have contaminated land experts who can advise you on how best to clean up any spillages to protect any plastic pipework.