In a continuing effort to dispel mounting questions and possible misinterpretations of the requirements of federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments that take effect Aug. 6, the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute and the American Supply Association issued a joint statement clarifying these requirements.
The statement notes the confusion between lead-free in terms of content as opposed to the amount of lead leached into the water. Since June 19, 1986, flux and solder, pipe and pipe fittings — which includes virtually every part of and product in a water distribution system — have been required to be “lead free” as defined by the SDWA. For flux and solder, the “lead free” standard means 0.2 percent lead content. For pipe and pipe fittings, “lead free” means the products can contain no more than 8 percent lead.