The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this spring that it intends to make conforming changes to existing drinking water regulations based on the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (RLDWA) of 2011. The proposed changes will establish new requirements concerning the labeling of products that comply with the definition of lead-free, including the requirement to label a product’s packaging, any of which could disrupt manufacturing and distribution of these products.
Aside from the labeling requirement, the EPA also is proposing certification requirements for manufacturers and importers to demonstrate the maximum lead content of the wetted surface of their plumbing products does not exceed 0.25%. The current RLDWA of 2011 defines lead-free as 0.25% of the wetted surface of plumbing products and establishes a statutory method of calculating lead content. The RLDWA exempts plumbing products used exclusively for non-potable applications.