President signs S. 3874, the "Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act", which modifies the Safe Drinking Water Act definition of "lead free" with regard to pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures.
U.S. Senate Bill No. S. 3874
| Session | 2010 |
| Passed | President signed into law |
| Link | No. S. 3874 |
History
| 1-4-11 | President signed into law |
| 12-17-10 | Cleared to go to the White House for signature by the President. S. 3874 passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent, and garnered the 2/3rd required vote needed in the House on a motion to Suspend the Rules. As such, no other vote in the House is required. |
Summary
Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act – Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to exempt from prohibitions on the use or sale of lead pipes, solder, and flux: (1) pipes or 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 (2) toilets, bidets, urinals, fill valves, flushometer valves, tub fillers, shower valves, service saddles, or water distribution main gate valves that are two inches in diameter or larger.
Redefines “lead free” under such Act to mean: (1) not containing more than 0.2% lead when used with respect to solder and flux (current law); and (2) not more than a weighted average of 0.25% lead when used with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes and pipe and plumbing fittings and fixtures. Establishes a formula to calculate the weighted average lead content of a pipe or pipe of plumbing fitting or fixture.
U.S. House of Representatives Bill No. H.R. 5320
| Session | 2010 |
| Pending | In Senate, however, Congress adopted the Lead Free section 17 of H.R. 5320 as S. 3874 |
| Link | No. H.R. 5320 |
History
| 5-18-10 | Introduced in House - referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
| 7-1-10 | Reported [Amended] by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 5289 Sec. 2 included in H.R. 5320. |
| 7-30-10 | Passed/agreed to in House. Rep. Markey moved to suspend the rules & pass the bill, as amended. |
| 8-2-10 | Received in the Senate. |
| 8-5-10 | Read twice & referred to Committee on Environment & Public Works. |
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S. 3874 is a free-standing version of Sect. 17 of H.R. 5320. Because the Senate and House passed S. 3874, it is unclear what will happen to the remainder of H.R. 5320. |
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Summary
"Provides that prohibitions on the use of lead pipes, solder, and flux do not apply to pipes, pipe and plumbing fittings, and fixtures (pipes) that are used exclusively for nonpotable services. Revises the definition of "lead free" to mean not containing more than 0.2% lead when used with respect to solder and flux and no more than a weighted average of 0.25% when used with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes."
House Report 111-524, Section 17. Reducing lead in drinking water …, this section provides 36 months for this new provision to take effect once this bill becomes enacted. The Committee believes, based on the assurances of manufacturers and distributors of faucets that would meet this standard, that this time frame is appropriate to provide adequate time for the infrastructure necessary to machine compliant piping and faucets for the national market.
U.S. House of Representatives Bill No. H.R. 5289
| Session | 2010 |
| Introduced | 5-12-10 |
| Link | No. H.R. 5289 |
History
| 05-12-10 | Introduced |
| 05-12-10 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
H.R. 5289 has been included H.R. 5320, the Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2010 (AQUA). Because the Senate and House passed S. 3874, which is substantively identical to H.R. 5289, H.R. 5289 will likely die on the vine. |
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Summary
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act [42 U.S.C. 300g-6 § 1417] to reduce lead in drinking water. Amends the definition of lead free: "… 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 when used with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes and pipe and plumbing fittings and fixtures."
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