Q: Do fixtures meeting the NSF standard 61 contribute lead to in drinking water?
Yes. Any plumbing device or fixture, domestically produced or imported, that contains any amount of lead and is in contact with the water is a potential source of contamination. Brass fittings and...
Yes. Any plumbing device or fixture, domestically produced or imported, that contains any amount of lead and is in contact with the water is a potential source of contamination. Brass fittings and plumbing fixtures, which meet the lead leaching standards set in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) (Section 1417(e)), have been found to contribute lead for a period of time after their installation, even in cases where these devices are in contact with relatively non-corrosive waters. The amount of lead that may leach into the water from a brass faucet or fixture is not solely related to the amount of lead contained in the product. The amount of lead leaching from a plumbing product is also influenced by the manufacturing process. The leaching of lead from certain plumbing products into water used for human consumption is addressed by NSF Standard 61, Section 9. Beginning January, 2014, changes to SDWA will further reduce the maximum allowable lead content of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings and fixtures to 0.25%. Additional information can be obtained at http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/leadfactsheet.cfm