AMWA last week joined a coalition of drinking water associations in submitting two joint letters, one to Congress and one to EPA, requesting the withdrawal of the recent interpretation that would subject fire hydrants to the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act of 2011. The letters were crafted in response to a recently published EPA “frequently asked questions” (FAQ) document that includes fire hydrants in the definition of “pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings and fixtures” covered under the Act.
EPA’s interpretation is problematic since the legislative record indicates lawmakers only intended to apply the new standards to pipes and plumbing fixtures that regularly deliver drinking water. State-level lead-free standards in California, Vermont and Maryland upon which the federal legislation was based do not include fire hydrants under their laws. As a health issue, use of hydrants in emergency or other short-term situations to provide potable water represents a negligible health risk.
Because of EPA’s unanticipated interpretation, utilities are facing millions of dollars in potential inventory losses. AMWA and the coalition of drinking water associations continue to engage both Congress and EPA on the issue. Meanwhile, individual utilities facing the potential for significant stranded fire hydrant inventories are encouraged to follow up directly with their representatives and regional and state regulators to weigh in on this issue. Contact Scott Biernat ([email protected]) or Dan Hartnett ([email protected]) in AMWA’s national office if you have any questions or would like assistance in directly responding to this issue.
The FAQs and other information on EPA’s efforts addressing lead in drinking water are available on EPA’s Lead in Drinking Water webpage.