Q.
In our modern day of PVC, is lead piping still used?
A.
Below is an extract from Safe Plumbing Org.
Why is Lead Used in Water Pipes and Plumbing?
The answer goes back literally thousands of years to the first plumbing systems, which are named after the word “lead” in Latin, plumbum. Lead piping was used because of its unique ability to resist pinhole leaks, while being soft enough to form into shapes that deliver water efficiently. Lead was used in many other common products as well until scientific advancements in the 20th century demonstrated the element’s toxicity. The plumbing industry voluntarily took significant steps to reduce lead exposure.
There are a number of reasons why trace amounts of lead can be found in the water supply today:
- Nearly all homes built before the 1980s still have lead solder connecting copper pipes.
- Lead still can be found in some interior water pipes and in pipes connecting a home or business to the main water pipe in the street.
Defining “Lead-Free” Fixtures
When a plumbing fixture, such as a kitchen or bathroom faucet, is labeled “lead free,” it can still include a very small amount of lead.
In recent years, several brass alloys have largely replaced the lead in faucets. These materials include bismuth, silicon, selenium, and phosphorous, all of which provide different material properties, depending on the amount used and method of processing.
While none yet effectively duplicates the performance of leaded brass, several types have been employed by some plumbing fitting manufacturers for certain applications.
The Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, which went into effect on January 4, 2014, has reduced the lead content allowed in water systems and plumbing products. The act changed the definition of “lead free” in Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) from not more than 8% lead content to not more than a weighted average of 0.25% lead with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and plumbing fixtures.
In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an online guide on certification markings for lead-free products. “How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System & Plumbing Products” includes a summary of the law, its implementation, and a guide for identifying products that are certified as meeting the lead-free requirement of the SDWA.
Eliminating Lead in Service Lines
Many safe water experts advocate for the replacement of lead service lines (LSLs), a task estimated by the EPA in 2016 to cost from $16 billion to $80 billion to eliminate an estimated 6.5 million to 10 million LSLs.
In the meantime, the best protection for the U.S. public is the testing and monitoring of what makes up our drinking water. The amount of lead and other minerals that actually leach into the water is far more critical than how much is used to manufacture the products that come in contact with the drinking water.
Consumers concerned about lead in their drinking water can ask for a copy of their city’s Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), an annual drinking water quality report which lists levels of contaminants found during testing, including lead. Use the EPA’s helpful CCR locator tool to find your city’s report.
The EPA published a regulation in 1991 to control lead and copper in drinking water known as “the Lead and Copper Rule” (LCR). Revised in 2000 and 2007, the LCR is a treatment technique rule that requires water utilities to conduct tap sampling for lead and copper to determine the actions they must take to reduce exposure to lead and copper.
The LCR mandates that in at least 90 percent of a water supply, lead levels must not exceed 15 parts per billion (ppb) and copper concentrations must not exceed an action level of 1.3 parts per million (ppm).
In December 2015, the EPA received comprehensive recommendations from the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) and other concerned stakeholders on potential steps to strengthen the LCR.
In addition, the EPA is taking into account the recent lead in drinking water issues experienced in Flint, Michigan, as well as extensively considering the national experience in implementing the rule.
Currently, the EPA is considering long-term revisions to the LCR to improve public health protection by making substantial changes, including streamlining the rule requirements. To learn more about the types of revisions being reviewed, take a look at the EPA’s October 2016 White Paper on “Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.”