Lead-free leaders Sponsored by Watts Water Technologies
NSF International supports new lead-free definition and regulations for plumbing
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products ANNARBOR, MICH.— NSF International, an independent public health organization that tests and certifies a wide range of plumbing and drinking water treatment products, strongly supports the passage of the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act on January 4, which significantly reduces the amount of lead allowed in plumbing products that contact drinking water. NSF International applauds the
government for harmonizing federal legislation with recently enacted state requirements and NSF Standards. In 2008, Annex G was incorporated into NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components — Health Effects and includes requirements limiting the weighted
FAIRFIELD, N.J.— For plumbing materials suppliers like British- owned John Guest®, the new lead free legislation is a boon to the company’s prospects in the American marketplace: John Guest plumbing products are made of plastic so the issue of lead-free is an advantage from the start. The Reduction of Lead in Drinking
Water legislation, which was sponsored by California legislators in both the House and Senate and
average of lead content in plumbing products to 0.25 percent, the same as required by this new federal legislation. This legislation (to take effect January 4, 2014) now makes the federal law consistent with California lead-free legislation passed in 2006, amends the Safe Drinking Water Act’s definition of lead-free and limits the maximum content of lead in plumbing devices, so it’s consistent with the lead content requirements of NSF Standards. Plumbing devices already certified
to NSF Standard 61, Annex G fully comply with the lead-content requirements of this newly passed Act. A list of compliant products can be found on NSF’s website. “We applaud Congress and the
supported by the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute, mandates that all 50 states limit lead content in solder and flux at 0.2 percent and contain not more than a weighted average of 0.25 percent for the wetted surfaces of pipe, fixtures and fittings. States have 36 months to implement the law. For suppliers like John Guest
USA, supplying lead-free products is not an issue and no conversion process is required. John Guest’s
ICC-ES PMG to certify plumbing products for lead reduction in drinking water
ICC-ES PMG announced that it will certify plumbing products to the new Federal Law for Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water. The legislation, which passed prior
to the final adjournment of the 111th Congress, provides for a 36- month implementation period. The legislation requirements are consistent with the current requirements for the States of California, Vermont and Maryland. ICC-ES offers a free certification to the law to manufacturers whose
products are certified to the applicable performance standard by ICC-ES. “ICC-ES has been sensitive to the needs of product manufacturers for years. Dawn Qualley, certification program manager said “We understand that we are here to address all the certification needs of manufacturers and solve their certification challenges. That is why we offer this free certification to such manufacturers.” Fore more info,
www.icc-es.org.
Administration for taking this long- awaited step to harmonize this requirement across the country, which will help protect the public from exposure to lead in their drinking water,” said Bob Ferguson, NSF international vice president of water systems. “We are pleased that the new national requirement for lead in plumbing devices will be equivalent to the requirements in NSF/ANSI national standards. NSF is prepared to support this effort and to help address this growing public health concern by continuing to test and certify drinking water products that conform to these new lead-free requirements.” Visit
www.nsf.org.
Plastic fittings smart alternative to lead free ruling
product lines — especially its signature Speedfit® line of push-fit fittings for plumbing applications — are made of engineered plastic. For info,
www.johnguest.com.
Columbia County Exceeds Par
FROM
WWW.WEARELEADFREE.NET— If 15 parts per billion (ppb) is par, then Columbia County just played a bogie round. Columbia County (Georgia), just miles from Augusta and its famed Master’s Golf Tournament, is asking for a mulligan after it “hit out of bounds” with lead concentrations that exceeded federal allowable levels. Thirty homes hit into a real water hazard, recording levels above the EPA’s maximum of 15 ppb. It was the first time a Columbia County home failed since testing began in the 1990s. The usual scoreboard leaders (lead solder and pipes) are to blame. The local water supplies were given a clean bill of health. That’s good news for the residents. We’ll check back with Columbia County on the back nine.
phc april 2011
www.phcnews.com
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