Lead-Free Copper Alloys In Waterworks Applications

For years, the Brass industry has been stagnated by limited options regarding material use resulting in a decrease of innovation – until now.

There are hundreds of lead-free brass options. Many of those options are acceptable for waterworks product based on the criteria of standards such as AWWA C502, Dry-Barrel Fire Hydrants and AWWA C515, Reduced-Wall Resilient-Seated Gate Valves, with at least two dozen of the brass options having significant existing field use. These options provide flexibility to tailor solutions for unique customer applications and maintain better control over raw material costs.

In contrast, AWWA C800 Underground Service Line Valves and Fittings was built around the use of one brass, C83600, also known as leaded red brass. When the industry transitioned to lead-free brass for surfaces in contact with potable water around two decades ago, there were only two brass options added and both were bismuth-based brass. Only one other alloy had been added in the last twenty years and it was a third bismuth-based brass.

In this white paper, discover how Mueller is leading the way to efficient operations, responsible sourcing, and the development of sustainable products through the use of lead-free brass.