NSF releases P453

This protocol was developed with input from various industry organizations and benefited from a public review comment period. NSF International has additional services to assist facility operators in establishing and verifying their management plans for cooling tower water systems through education, guidance in developing plans and third-party verification audits.

Is there less lead in our water now?

The 111th Congress has passed an amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act which creates a federal limit of 0.25% for the maximum lead content of any plumbing component used for potable water intended for human consumption that is smaller than 2″ in diameter. I think that the intent of this bill is good, but it really doesn’t do more than make people feel good and cause a massive increase in the cost of delivered components, especially brass which is very difficult and costly to machine when the lead levels drop that low. Municipal distribution piping is a greater source of lead than the fixtures themselves, and should be addressed as a much higher priority. This bill will become effective in 2013, so expect an influx of high-lead components from China over the next year or two.