On January 4, 2011, President Obama signed into law the "Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act," which revised the definition for "lead free" in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) as it pertains to "pipe, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures." The national law, for the most part, replicates California's regulation governing lead in drinking water, with many of the same test requirements and product exemptions.
The new lead-free law applies to a wide variety of products used in water distributions systems, including meters, pumps, valves, pipes, fittings, or fixtures that come into contact with potable water. This includes corporation stops, curb stops, service fittings and couplings, meter valves, meter couplings, check valves, backflow valves, and more.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with implementing this law, but primary responsibility for enforcing the law is left to the states. Each state has its own method of ensuring conformance to the SDWA. Most pass responsibility to cities, towns, and municipal utilities. California requires product certification by an independent third party and certifying to NSF 61 standards is becoming common.
Managing the logistics of transitioning inventory began for us back in 2010. Because of California, we have been supplying lead free parts since February of that year, well before S.3874 to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reduce lead in drinking water. We identified and prioritized components that needed to be changed over to no-lead as well as components that were already compliant or did not need to be changed over to no-lead.
Our partnership with Chase Brass and Copper has allowed us to provide not just compliant product but a true no lead product. Unlike much of the compliant low lead and no lead brass, Chase’s ECOBrass is also Bismuth free.
Some of the other characteristics and benefits are:
Barry E. Walter Sr. Company has received confirmation from ICC Evaluation Service, LLC (ICC-ES), that its potable (drinkable) water products comply with the provisions of the SDWA lower standards for the amount of lead permissible in plumbing products that come into contact with potable water. This confirmation, as evidenced in ICC-ES listing PMG-1187, provides guidance to code officials faced with approving the use of potable water products under these codes.
The new lead-free law applies to a wide variety of products used in water distributions systems, including meters, pumps, valves, pipes, fittings, or fixtures that come into contact with potable water. This includes corporation stops, curb stops, service fittings and couplings, meter valves, meter couplings, check valves, backflow valves, and more.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with implementing this law, but primary responsibility for enforcing the law is left to the states. Each state has its own method of ensuring conformance to the SDWA. Most pass responsibility to cities, towns, and municipal utilities. California requires product certification by an independent third party and certifying to NSF 61 standards is becoming common.
Managing the logistics of transitioning inventory began for us back in 2010. Because of California, we have been supplying lead free parts since February of that year, well before S.3874 to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reduce lead in drinking water. We identified and prioritized components that needed to be changed over to no-lead as well as components that were already compliant or did not need to be changed over to no-lead.
Our partnership with Chase Brass and Copper has allowed us to provide not just compliant product but a true no lead product. Unlike much of the compliant low lead and no lead brass, Chase’s ECOBrass is also Bismuth free.
Some of the other characteristics and benefits are:
- Strength Equivalent to Stainless Steel
- Corrosion Resistance Equivalent to Commercial Bronze
- Not Brittle at High Temperatures
- EPA-Registered CuVerro Antimicrobial Alloy*
Barry E. Walter Sr. Company has received confirmation from ICC Evaluation Service, LLC (ICC-ES), that its potable (drinkable) water products comply with the provisions of the SDWA lower standards for the amount of lead permissible in plumbing products that come into contact with potable water. This confirmation, as evidenced in ICC-ES listing PMG-1187, provides guidance to code officials faced with approving the use of potable water products under these codes.
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* Laboratory testing shows that, when cleaned regularly, CuVerro surfaces kill greater than 99.9% of the following bacteria within 2 hours of exposure: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Entrerobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and E. coli O157:H7. The use of CuVerro® antimicrobial copper products is a supplement to and not a substitute for standard infection control practices; users must continue to follow all current infection control practices, including those practices related to cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces. This surface has been shown to reduce microbial contamination, but it does not necessarily prevent cross contamination. It should not be interpreted that CuVerro® is making claims to solely prevent hospital associated infections nor should it be implied that CuVerro® products make such claims. CuVerro® is a registered trademark of GBC Metals, LLC and is used with permission. (C-0004-1303)
