The new Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act affects every component of the water system from water treatment facilities to distribution systems to residential and commercial piping and fixtures; professionals that sell, install or use any of the equipment in question have to prepare for the new regulations. Take the following key actions to prepare for Jan. 4 if you fall into this category.
- Take inventory of the equipment you currently have and determine which products are compliant and which are not.
- Replace noncompliant products in your inventory with compliant products so that you can continue operations as usual in the new year.
- Keep separate any compliant products for potable water and exempted products for non-potable water.
- Go to your local authority with any specific questions about equipment and fittings that are not mentioned explicitly in the amendment.
- Learn the different equipment options available, which are compliant and which options work best for your purpose. Many new pieces of equipment are constructed of a composite material of plastic and fiberglass, and compliant brass and bronze pipes and fittings use silicon, bismuth, antimony, tin or nickel as alloying elements in place of lead, which was used traditionally.
