News | August 10, 1998

NSF Certification Covers Federal Lead Compliance Requirement

NSF International of AnnArbor, MI is recommending that manufacturers of plumbing products obtain NSF Standard 61 Certification to demonstrate compliance with the new federal requirements for lead contribution to drinking water. Faucets and other plumbing fixtures sold after August 6, 1998 are required to comply with the lead extraction limits of American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/NSF Standard 61, Section 9 under the "lead free" requirements found in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

"EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) determined that faucets and fixtures could be significant sources of lead in drinking water," said Dave Purkiss, general manager of the NSF Drinking Water Additives Program. "Congress addressed the issue in 1996 with Amendments to the SDWA. The EPA subsequently ruled that compliance with Section 9 of the NSF Standard satisfies the new SDWA requirements. NSF Certified products benefit from independent verification of compliance to this EPA regulation which is why we urge faucet and fixture manufacturers to certify their products as soon as possible."

Purkiss added, "The EPA rule taking effect in August refers only to lead, but most manufacturers are looking for assurances that their products do not contribute harmful levels of other contaminants such as organics or heavy metals. NSF Certification to ANSI/NSF Standard 61 provides those assurances to manufacturers, and to consumers."

ANSI/NSF Standard 61 has been adopted by all model plumbing codes in the United States. "Plumbing inspectors will be requiring proof of compliance to ANSI/NSF Standard 61, as the plumbing code revisions are adopted locally," said Purkiss. "The state of Texas will require plumbing fixtures covered under ANSI/NSF Standard 61 to be certified by an ANSI-accredited certifier by September 1, 1998."

Products required to comply with the lead extraction requirements of ANSI/NSF Standard 61, Section 9 include devices installed in the last liter of the water distribution system and intended by the manufacturer for dispensing water for human ingestion. Some examples are:

  • supply stops
  • lavatory and kitchen faucets
  • drinking fountains
  • water coolers
  • hot water dispensers
  • glass fillers
  • residential refrigerator ice makers

Copies of the ANSI/NSF Standard 61 and listings of NSF Certified products are available through the Publications Department at NSF. Product testing and certification service questions should be directed to Dave Purkiss, purkiss@nsf.org.

NSF International, founded in 1944, is a World Health Organization Collaborating Center for drinking water safety and treatment and for food safety. The organization is known for its environmental and public health standards and product certification programs. NSF maintains laboratories in Michigan and California, and offices in Ann Arbor, MI; Washington, DC; Brussels, Belgium; Sydney, Australia; and Nairobi, Kenya. The NSF telephone number is 800-NSF-MARK.