The discovery was made by Irish Water during the installation of household meters necessary to implement the new water bill charges.
In an effort to combat the problem, these families have been advised to remove and replace the lead pipes- an exercise which costs in excess of €5,000.
Aware of the financial implications this may have on thousands of Irish families, the government has assured the public they will be initiating a grant scheme in order to help low income families deal with the costs.
Having faced criticism for ignoring the crisis despite numerous warnings as to the dangers associated with lead, the government insist they will now provide the necessary support to the thousands of families affected by the issue.
Eager to highlight the severity of the case, Irish Water have asserted that it may take up to a decade and cost in excess of €250 million before the issue has been properly addressed and insist families should be proactive in their approach to dealing with the problem.
By educating themselves on the history of their homes, families can quickly ascertain whether they may be affected, with Irish Water's head of asset management, Jerry Grant, saying: "It's really important that homeowners understand that if thy live in a house which was built up to and including the 1970s that they could have lead pipes, resulting in lead in drinking water."
Appealing to the public to heed Irish Water's warnings regarding the potential dangers associated with their home's plumbing, the Minister for Environment, Alan Kelly, said: "My advice is you shouldn't ignore this, especially if you have a young family."
Elaborating on this point and attempting to explain the repercussions of consuming water which has been plumbed through lead pipes, HSE Professor, Kevin Kelleher, said: "With the levels we are talking about, there is a possibility that it can cause neuro-developmental delays for some children. This is a very strong message again that it is far better to breastfeed than to bottle."
In an effort to reduce the risk, Irish Water will begun using a chemical treatment called orthophosphate at the end of this year which will coat the pipes with a protective layer, but will not completely eliminate the problem which has been known to affect the development of a child's brain resulting in problems with learning, behaviour and attention span,
Addressing the grant scheme which is due to be put in place, Mr. Kelly admitted that the government cannot say how many Irish families will be eligible to benefit from the proposed financial support.
