One Way to Get the Lead Out of Your Drinking Water
The water situation in Flint, Michigan has highlighted the longtime problem of lead in our drinking water. Federal agencies, states and municipalities throughout the US have been battling this problem for years as the health effects can be devastating. Concerned that the problem was being exacerbated by low quality drinking water plumbing parts, the National Sanitation Foundation (now known as NSF International) published the NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components in 2008 stating that “NSF/ANSI 61 contains requirements that restrict both 1) the level of lead that can be contained in water contact materials of drinking water products, and 2) the level of lead that can extract out of the product and into drinking water.” This provides the basis for what is now known as the NSF Standard 372.
The updated NSF Standard 372 replaces/supplements previous standards that were promoted and enforced on a state-by-state basis. California Assembly Bill 1953, Annex G (CA AB1953) was the first to establish the “new” lead free requirement of less than 0.25% lead content for every wetted component for plumbing products. Many states used the California standard to assess compliance until the updated NSF 372 went into effect in January of 2014. Publications from the National Sanitation Foundation confirm that all products previously certified to CA AB1953 will be deemed compliant with the new NSF 372 standard without retesting.
Even before official “lead-free” standards for plumbing products were introduced, Filtrine was committed to providing safe drinking water products to its many customers around the world. Filtrine’s insistence on using all copper piping and metallic waterways (instead of choosing the latest and least expensive plastic components) is a testament to our commitment to unrivaled quality, and time-tested reliability.
Materials and components matter. Filtrine has put this mantra into practice by not only building all of our products in the US, but by also using US-made components whenever possible. These strict quality standards enable us to verify the origins and safety of the parts we use, and in turn, consistently meet the high standards of our customers.
Another aspect of this ongoing commitment to safety has been to independently certify all of our drinking water products as compliant with the latest and strictest “lead-free” standards. Samples of our product components are sent to Intertek-Consumer Goods and Truesdail Laboratories (ANSI-accredited certification bodies) for analytical acid digestion and elemental analysis. All components that come in contact with water are tested for their lead content using a microwave processor and an ICP. The results of these component tests are then compared to published standards by NSF, specifically NFS/ANSI Standard 372 which deals with the lead content for drinking water system components. See the requirements on the NFS website.
For Filtrine drinking water equipment test results, download the Filtrine NSF-ANSI 372 Lead-Free Compliant Intertek Test Report, or contact your local Filtrine drinking water sales representative. We provide lead removal water filtration options for all drinking water applications.
Featured Filtrine Product
Filtrine’s Model 107-16-HL-LS high/low non-recessed drinking water fountain features a permanent stainless steel durable cane apron support arm on the high fountain. This model complies with ADA protruding objects guidelines and also provides symmetry along the front of the drinking fountain. Any Filtrine drinking fountain can be made touchless. Specifications…
Featured INDESTRUCT Product
Filtrine’s extreme environment INDESTRUCT Model MLA marine electric water coolers are “heaviest-duty” and the most rugged water cooler in the industry and are specially designed to withstand corrosive salt water environments. They are built with the most durable materials (18 gauge stainless steel) and components (epoxy coated) to withstand even the most excessive demands of heavy industry. INDESTRUCT marine water coolers have become the unit-of-choice the world’s largest navy’s and the ship builders. Learn more…
For more information on any of these models, contact your local Filtrine Drinking Water Representative today.
Don’t miss the latest “Drinking Water Solutions Update”. Subscribe today!
