NSF Special Section-NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Getting the Lead Out of Plumbing
Issue: 6/05
Over the last 15 years, a regulatory framework has been developed across the U.S. and Canada for controlling the leaching of lead and other contaminants from plumbing and other products used in municipal water distribution systems. This regulatory framework is based on NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components-Health Effects. Most American and Canadian plumbing product standards now reference NSF 61. The standard is also referenced directly in the Uniform Plumbing Code, the International Plumbing Code and the National Standard Plumbing Code. Forty-four U.S. states and three Canadian provinces require municipal drinking water system components to comply with the requirements of the standard. However the enforcement of this standard varies widely based on product type. While it is a safe bet that the majority of faucets and plastic pipe sold in the U.S. will not leach harmful amounts of lead or other contaminants, the same cannot be said for all types of plumbing products.