A proposed rule signed on January 4 by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy aligns wording in Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) with existing legislation that lowered the maximum lead content of plumbing products. Passed in 2011, the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (RLDWA) revised the definition of “lead free” by lowering permissible lead content for surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings and other fixtures in contact with water from 8% to a weighted average of 0.25%. Products used for non-potable water purposes were specifically exempted from RLDWA requirements. Later legislation, The Community Fire Safety Act of 2013, added fire hydrants to the list of exempted plumbing devices.
The proposed rule should not impact current operations and procurement processes since the legislation is already in effect – since early 2014 – and both manufacturers’ and users’ affected plumbing devices should have already adjusted to the changes. The pre-publication version of the proposed rule, along with Q&As and additional information on the new lead requirements, are available through EPA’s Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder and Flux for Drinking Water webpage.