Ten years ago, I wrote a column that I entitled “No lead is good lead.” The column raised a number of eyebrows and is still quoted today. Actually, that column was written well after my first involvement with lead. I first got involved with lead in drinking water concerns in the early 1980s. I was interviewed for the Chicago local news in 1986 regarding lead in the Chicago drinking water.
When I was invited to participate in the development of a new standard involving plumbing products and water quality, I jumped at the opportunity. That committee eventually developed the first edition of NSF 61, Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects, which was published in June 1988. The standard celebrated its 30th year last June.