Getting the Lead Out of California's Plumbing

These days you might be noticing delays in sourcing and shipment of plumbing parts. And you might discover that some of those jazzy fixtures you find online are not available to customers in California.

There's a particular reason for all that. In January 2009, California enacted laws to increase protection of the public from exposure to lead in drinking water by reducing the amount of lead allowed in plumbing components. As you can imagine, that has had an impact on products available for the California market.

The bills were signed into law in 2009 and went into effect this past January. The concern was that lead from plumbing products can leach into drinking water - and that lead is harmful to humans. The amount of lead coming out of fixtures, pipes and solder depends on a number of factors, such as how much lead is in the materials, how large an area of a lead-containing part comes into contact with the water, how long the water is in contact with the lead-containing surface, and how corrosive the water is. As you can see, it's a little complicated. But while it may not be possible to specifically quantify the amount of lead coming from plumbing, the risk from lead poisoning is serious enough that California chose to take the extra step to protect drinking water.

Which is a good thing. But it's kind of a big deal when it comes to plumbing parts - and finding parts that satisfy the new California laws.

So be patient and flexible if you can when looking for new fixtures. The industry will adjust, and more and more choices will become available in time. It's also good to keep in mind that while supply is still limited, prices could be affected. But you know how that goes.

If you have any questions, call the office. The changes have been in effect for several months now, and we can let you know what to expect. Just ask.

For more information:

Visit the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) website for complete information on the new laws.

DTSC’s February 2009 fact sheet provides detailed information on this issue. The test protocols provided in DTSC's August 2009 fact sheet are designed for DTSC to test and evaluate lead content of individual product samples acquired from locations that are readily accessible to the public at either retail or wholesale sources.

Exposure to lead can cause serious adverse health effects, including delays in physical and mental development. See Lead poisoning on en.wikipedia.org for more information.

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