Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/498253
65 enables Californians to make informed decisions about protecting themselves from exposure to these chemicals. The law prohibits businesses in California from "discharg- ing significant amounts" of the 800-plus chemicals listed into drinking water sources. Prop 65 set the prescribed safe harbor concentration level for lead at 0.5 microgram per day (μg/day), the most-stringent regulation of lead exposure in the world. The level was derived using the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit for air- borne lead in the workplace. In turn, OSHA relied on numer- ous scientific studies regarding the effects of lead as both a carcinogen and as a neurotoxin. However, a for-profit legal enforcement group sued the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assess- ment in early January, seeking to invalidate the existing safe harbor for lead exposure as it feels the safe harbor is too le- nient and should be eliminated. If a ruling would be passed in favor of this group, it could have major effects on businesses operating in and serving California customers for consumer products. It could also lead to an influx of lawsuits against businesses operating in California if even trace amounts of lead were found in their products. Go to the It's the Law column in this issue for a complete article on the lawsuit. Need to Be Lead Free or Not? So exactly what do you do? It depends. The EPA has devel- oped a chart to help you understand when you need to comply with the lead-free rule. Don't worry about your product being lead free if it meets certain exemptions under the federal statute (Figure 1). According to the statute, if the product does not come into contact with drinking water, then the manufacturer or contrac- tor doesn't have to abide by the lead-free rule requirements. If the product comes into contact with a drinking water source and is used in bathroom applications and appliances such as a toilet, bidet, urinal or shower, it is exempt from the lead-free rule under section 1417(a)(4)(B). If the product is used exclusively for non-potable water and no human consumption is ever anticipated to occur, the product is exempt under 1417(a)(4)(A), which states: One exemption is for pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, or fixtures, including back-flow preventers, that are used exclu- sively for non-potable services, such as manufacturing, indus- trial processing, irrigation, outdoor watering, or any other uses where the water is not anticipated to be used for human consumption. This exemption is important for groundwater contractors working in irrigation and outdoor watering areas. This is why it is critical to understand your client's intended use of their water when working with them. It's important to understand all the uses your customer has in mind for the water as you're making decisions on what materials to use for the well and plumbing attached to it. Twitter @WaterWellJournl WWJ May 2015 47 Two industry-leading manufacturers providing unparalleled water pressure solutions for over 100 years For over 100 years, Square D has set the standard for quality, safety, and reliability, clearly making it the #1 brand in the industry. It is this established dependability and longevity which also make it the most cost-effective pressure switch solution available. Why take chances on any other switch? 800-523-0224 Your source for Square D Pressure Switches! LEAD-FREE continues on page 48