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Clean Water & Lead in PlumbingNumerous elements and minerals are present in our drinking water. Some occur naturally. Others enter or “leach” into the water on the journey from utility to faucet. Some of these elements are linked to emotional issues; most notably, lead. Facts about Lead piping and Safe Drinking Water
Lead in Plumbing TodayAging infrastructures, including pipe and plumbing system components, are the main contributors of trace amounts of lead in the water supply today:
Clean Water and FaucetsMost bathroom faucets sold in the U.S. and around the world are made from brass, a mix of copper, zinc and a minute amount of lead. Lead seals microscopic cracks that occur between the copper and zinc crystals as they cool, and provides the malleability for brass to be forged and converted into the machined components that are vital parts of every faucet.In 2006, the American Waterworks Association Research Foundation (AWWARF) concluded that faucet lead levels in the U.S. leach less than 2 parts per billion, far below the allowable 11 parts per billion. Lead-Free FaucetsIn recent years, a number of brass alloys have largely replaced the lead in faucets. These materials include bismuth, silicon, selenium, and phosphorous, all of which provide different material properties, depending on the amount used and method of processing. While none yet effectively duplicates the performance of leaded brass, several types have been employed by some plumbing fitting manufacturers for certain applications.In the fall of 2007, California passed AB 1953, a law that requires all faucets sold in the state after January 1, 2010, to contain no more than 0.25 percent lead. The law does not address lead levels in the drinking water itself, which remains subject to the terms of the state's Proposition 65. AB 1953 has created a race against the clock for manufacturers, not unlike the legislative deadlines imposed on the industry in the 1990s to reduce flush volumes in toilets. As of early 2008, it is unclear whether using alternative alloys in faucets will resist leaching and meet the conditions of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Manufacturers are testing and innovating literally 24/7 in laboratories around the world to meet the requirements of California's laws and its residents, most especially in the area of public safety. Eliminating Lead in PlumbingIt is essential to the nation's health that lead piping systems be upgraded, a task estimated by the EPA in 2003 to cost $276.8 billion and take more than 20 years achieve. In the meantime, the best protection for the U.S. public is the ongoing testing and monitoring of what makes up our drinking water. The amount of lead and other minerals that actually leach into the water is far more critical than how much is used to manufacture the products that come in contact with the drinking water.Example: The EPA allows faucets to be sold in the U.S. that do not leach more than 11 parts per billion of the lead into water during a 20-day test. That is similar to a teaspoon of water in an Olympic-sized pool. The EPA's criteria is in accordance with SDWA, taking into account the extremes of potable water chemistry that interact with the pipes and faucets across the U.S. Contrary to some erroneous claims, faucets do not increase the amount of minerals that are leached over time. Clean Water and Imported Plumbing ProductsEPA officials addressing the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute Fall 2007 Meeting said that the EPA has reason to believe that faucets are being imported into the U.S. that contain lead in excess of the SDWA requirements of 11 parts per billion.EPA is coordinating with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to identify imports that violate U.S. standards, working with environmental and law enforcement agencies to share information about noncompliant or suspect imports. Learn more on EPA's special import site by visiting here. For more information on any of these topics, visit the drinking water section of the EPA website. |
The History of Lead in Piping Why is lead in pipes at all? The answer goes back literally thousands of years to the first plumbing systems, which are names for the word “lead” in Latin, plumbum. Lead piping was used because of its unique ability to resist pinhole leaks, while being soft enough to form into shapes that deliver water most efficiently. Lead was used in many other common products as well until scientific advancements in the 20th century demonstrated the element’s toxicity. The plumbing industry voluntarily took significant steps to reduce lead exposure.
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