Legislation to exempt fire hydrants from new “lead-free” standards set to take effect in January unanimously passed the House of Representatives on December 2. Now AMWA and other water utility groups are urging the Senate to quickly approve the bill before the end of the year.
Sponsored by Reps. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), the “Community Fire Safety Act” (H.R. 3588) would add fire hydrants to a list of products (such as toilets, bidets and shower valves) that are statutorily exempt from the new “lead-free” standards. The bill encountered no House opposition, and the final tally in favor of the measure was 384 – 0.
Following the vote, AMWA and a coalition of water utility and municipal groups wrote to members of the Senate requesting quick action on the House-approved measure. No Senate vote has been scheduled, but senators such as Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) have already said they will push for action before the end of the year.
AMWA is asking members to contact their own senators with requests to exempt hydrants from the new lead standards. Fast action on this is critical, as the Senate is only scheduled to be in session for two more weeks in 2013.
AMWA also continues to engage with EPA on the hydrant issue. As a follow-up to the webinar hosted by EPA on November 25, AMWA joined other drinking water associations to send a letter to EPA summarizing our interpretation of the discussions. While touching on all of the issues covered during the webinar, the letter emphasizes that the exclusion of fire hydrants from Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act requirements is the most prudent course of action. The latest letter to EPA can be viewed on AMWA’s regulatory committee webpage.