A reinforced water barrier over a joint between power cables is suited for subsea cables having different water barrier/sheathing designs. The reinforced water barrier has an intermediate water barrier made of lead or a lead alloy which stretches over the joint and is attached to the underlaying water barriers of the joined cables, and which is reinforced by being coated with a layer of polyethylene based adhesive followed by a layer of polymeric outer sheathing. The adhesive layer and the layer of polymeric outer sheathing are thermally set by a heat treatment.