As of January 2014, the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act of 2011 will amend Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to establish more stringent criteria for defining products as lead free under SDWA. The main component of the revised, stricter definition of lead free requires that wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings and fixtures contain less than 0.25 percent lead, down from the previous eight percent limit required to be considered lead free under SDWA.
To help stakeholders adapt to the new requirements, EPA issued a new summary of the Act along with a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) addressing the Act’s requirements. The FAQs include clarifications for drinking water systems when repairing or replacing system components. In general, any new components or repair parts must meet the new lead free definition. However, there is considerable flexibility allowing reuse of existing system components, including reinstallment after being taken out of the system for calibration or repairs.