US Safe Drinking Water Act Redefines Maximum Level of Lead in Plumbing Fixtures

FAIRFIELD, N.J. - Jan. 28, 2014 - PRLog -- The Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act of 2011 (Public Law 111-380, 111th Congress) amended the definition of “lead free” for plumbing fixtures and fittings under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in the US.  As of 4 January 2014, the maximum allowable level of lead in the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, and fixtures is no more than 0.25% (2500 mg/kg) as a weighted average and no more than 0.2% (2000 mg/kg) with respect to solder and flux (1). These limits apply only to those plumbing materials used to deliver potable water for human consumption and do not apply to those materials that deliver non-potable water, such as water for industrial processing applications.

Maximum Lead Concentration in Potable Water

This regulation is intended to ensure that water distribution systems do not cause the lead concentration in water to exceed the EPA’s drinking water action level of 0.015 mg/L (2).

Highlights of the amendment are summarized in Table 1(http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/0... ) within the latest SafeGuardS bulletin.

References:

(1) Public Law 111–380,111th Congress - An Act To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reduce lead in drinking water (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ380/pdf/PLAW-111...)

(2) Lead and Copper Rule: A Quick Reference Guide (http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/lcr/upload/L...)

About SGS Hardgoods Services

Throughout a global network of laboratories, SGS is able to provide a range of services, including analytical and chemical testing (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Hardgoods/DIY-Tools-and-Hardware/Testing/Chemical-Testing.aspx) for lead in plumbing and plumbing fixtures for the US and worldwide markets.

For further information, please contact the SGS experts.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Paul Milne
Consumer Testing Services Technical Manager RSTS
SGS North America, Inc.
291 Fairfield Avenue
Fairfield, NJ 07004

t: +1 973 461 1512
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Hardgoods.aspx

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