LEAD FREE MATERIALS IN
DRINKING WATER
Peter Flynn
• Global Engineering Reliance Worldwide
• President, Plumbing Products Industry
Group Australia
Background to the US Lead
Free Regulations
Prop 65 came into force in
California in March 2000
Required warnings of hazardous
substances eg. Lead amongst
others
Background to the US Lead Free
Regulations
Results of Prop 65
Various groups petitioned State of
California for lack of enforcement
Eg. As You Sow Foundation.
www.asyousow.org ‘Planting the Seeds
for Social Change’
Filed notices of violation against
manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
Some reached settlements and agreed to
remove lead from products.
Reaction to Notice of Violation
Valve industry in general decided to fight
the action.
Prop 65 could not be verified because it
contained no suitable test method.
Some manufacturers decided to use lead
free as a marketing tool, generally failed
because market was not willing to pay
extra and no enforcement.
Note: Under current law lead free can be
defined as up to <8%
Origins of Incoming Californian
Law AB1953
Test methods proposed under NSF ruled
invalid in March 2004.
Lobbying activity lead to adoption of
AB1953 which comes into force 1 January
2010.
AB1953 has changes definition of lead
free, but significantly lacked method of
test.
California Assembly Bill AB1953
1. Revises definition of lead free to mean <0.25%
for every component with a wetted area.
2. Prohibits using materials that are not lead free in
repairs.
3. Prohibits introducing into commerce for use in
California product to convey water for human
consumption that is not lead free.
4. Exempts manufacturing, industrial and irrigation.
5. Prohibits sale of solder or flux that is not lead
free unless accompanied by prominent label.
6. Defines lead free as <0.25% lead by using a
weighted average formula.
Reaction to Bill
To date much conjecture about test
methods or lack thereof
PMI has introduced bill to legislate for an
ANSI accredited authority to conduct a
test to modified NSF61
Still not certain as to outcome
Enforcement
To date not clear indication of how
California intends to enforce requirement
Expectation is come 2 Jan 2010, flocks of
lawyers to descend on plumbing
merchants to assess and test product
Also some concern within industry as to
actions of lobby groups in other states
Solutions for Lead Free Material
Why is Lead in Brass?
Castability
Machinability
Alternatives
Silicon – predominantly in castings and with
higher copper
Bismuth – predominantly in forgings and
machining bar, also higher copper
No ‘standards’ as yet, all proprietary
products
Other Issues with Lead Free
Use of virgin material, little scrap.
Cost – something like 10-25%
more, by no means certain
Logistics – having to stock 2 ranges
for the other 48 States because of
cost
Australia?
Could be 2 potential drivers
1. Regulation – follow US lead via
• Standards AS4020
• Regulation
• Lobbying
2. Logistics and commercial decision
making
• Supply chain evolves
• Relative size of market
Questions