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S. 3874 (111th): Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act

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The text of the bill below is as of Dec 16, 2010 (Passed the Senate).

111th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3874

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

AN ACT

To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reduce lead in drinking water.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act.

2.

Reducing lead in drinking water

(a)

In general

Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g–6) is amended—

(1)

by adding at the end of subsection (a) the following:

(4)

Exemptions

The prohibitions in paragraphs (1) and (3) shall not apply to—

(A)

pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, or fixtures, including backflow preventers, that are used exclusively for nonpotable services such as manufacturing, industrial processing, irrigation, outdoor watering, or any other uses where the water is not anticipated to be used for human consumption; or

(B)

toilets, bidets, urinals, fill valves, flushometer valves, tub fillers, shower valves, service saddles, or water distribution main gate valves that are 2 inches in diameter or larger.

; and

(2)

by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d)

Definition of lead free

(1)

In general

For the purposes of this section, the term lead free means—

(A)

not containing more than 0.2 percent lead when used with respect to solder and flux; and

(B)

not more than a weighted average of 0.25 percent lead when used with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures.

(2)

Calculation

The weighted average lead content of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture shall be calculated by using the following formula: For each wetted component, the percentage of lead in the component shall be multiplied by the ratio of the wetted surface area of that component to the total wetted surface area of the entire product to arrive at the weighted percentage of lead of the component. The weighted percentage of lead of each wetted component shall be added together, and the sum of these weighted percentages shall constitute the weighted average lead content of the product. The lead content of the material used to produce wetted components shall be used to determine compliance with paragraph (1)(B). For lead content of materials that are provided as a range, the maximum content of the range shall be used.

.

(b)

Effective date

The provisions of subsections (a)(4) and (d) of section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, as added by this section, apply beginning on the day that is 36 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Passed the Senate December 16, 2010.

Secretary