AMWA-supported legislation to exempt fire hydrants from new lead-content standards won Senate approval last week, virtually ensuring that communities will be allowed to continue using their existing supplies of fire hydrants after the new standards take effect on January 4.
The Senate passed H.R. 3588, the “Community Fire Safety Act,” under a unanimous consent agreement – a procedure that allows the chamber to quickly approve non-controversial bills without amendment. The action came two weeks after the House of Representatives approved the same legislation by a unanimous margin. AMWA encouraged water utilities to contact their senators and representatives in support of H.R. 3588, and many utilities did so over the past few weeks.
The legislation was made necessary by an October 22 EPA decision to subject newly installed fire hydrants to lead-content rules for pipe and plumbing fixtures that take effect on January 4. Many water utilities subsequently warned that EPA’s decision would strand them with millions of dollars worth of unusable hydrant inventories and prevent them from repairing or replacing broken hydrants until new compliant models could be procured.
Under H.R. 3588, fire hydrants will be added to a list of products (including toilets and shower valves) that are statutorily exempt from the new lead-content standards. The measure also requests the National Drinking Water Advisory Council to take into account all potential sources of lead throughout water distribution systems when considering revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule.
In response to the congressional action, EPA posted a revised version of its fire hydrant interpretation on December 19. The revised "Summary Of The Reduction Of Lead In Drinking Water Act And Frequently Asked Questions" reflecting the fire hydrant exemption is accessible on EPA’s Lead in Drinking Water website.
The White House has not issued any public comment on H.R. 3588, but President Obama is widely expected to sign the bill into law before January 4.