Traces of lead are rarely found in the water supply, despite the number of old properties still having lead pipes.

Responding to a Freedom of Information request, Manx Utilities confirmed that while there are no lead water mains, there are 1,099 ’communication’ pipes made of the toxic metal, which was widely used in plumbing up to the 1960s.

The authority said: ’We regularly test water supplies for lead and traces of lead are very rarely found.

’In 2018-19 we took 166 samples from customer properties chosen at random and there were no incidences of lead discovered.’

In addition, the government analyst took 81 samples of which none had traces of lead above the limit of detection of 5 micro grams/litre).

Manx Utilities replaces its own sections of lead pipes when requested by customers who are replacing theirs.

Some 170 customers a year take advantage of this scheme.