Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comments for rulemaking purposes to implement the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, which became effective Jan. 4, 2014. Feedback is being sought in the areas of labeling of lead-free products, labeling of non-potable use products, and the associated certification of compliance.
Signed by President Obama in 2011, the law reduces the federally mandated level of permissible lead from a maximum of 8.0 percent with respect to pipes and pipe fittings to a maximum weighted average of 0.25 percent with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures used to convey water for human consumption. The law also sets the benchmark for solder and flux at 0.2 percent.
The EPA held its initial “Notice of a Public Meeting, Regulations Implementing Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act: Prohibition on Use of Lead Pipes, Solder and Flux” on April 14. At the meeting, which IAPMO Vice President of Government Relations Dain Hansen attended in person, the EPA said it would analyze the comments received and expects to issue a proposed regulation in early 2016. The EPA is not expected to have a codified final regulation for at least two years. To view the EPA’s slideshow presentation from the event, visit http://goo.gl/ymSVmn.
“We’re excited that the EPA has begun the process to promulgate these important regulations. This is a critical step toward having a clear understanding of how this law will be enforced and enacted,” Hansen said.
Hansen said The IAPMO Group will submit comments to the EPA ahead of the April 30 deadline, and he encouraged organizations impacted by the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act to do so as well. Comments may be submitted via email to leadfreeact@epa.gov. Comments will be accepted through April 30.
IAPMO®, a global team of experts engaging industry and government for a safer built environment, and its charitable foundation, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH®), are proud to celebrate 10 years as a WorldSkills Global Industry Partner. IAPMO and IWSH celebrated the milestone this week at the annual General Assembly of WorldSkills International Members in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
A first-of-its-kind workshop for African World Plumbing Council (WPC) member organizations was held alongside the WorldSkills Africa 2025 capacity-building program for Plumbing, hosted at the Fountain Gate Craft & Trades School in Lusaka, Zambia, from Sept. 1-5. This workshop assembled a team of proactive WPC representatives from Zambia, South Africa, and Rwanda for a first in-person meeting of WPC member organizations on the continent.
ASSE International is seeking working group members to update four professional qualification standards: ASSE 13000 Standard for Service Plumber and Residential Mechanical Service Technician; ASSE 15000 Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems; ASSE 27000 Standard for Hybrid Fire Extinguishing Systems Personnel; and ASSE 29000 Standard for Personnel Related to Safe Pressure Testing of Piping Systems.