Description

Leaded brass has historically been used in potable water systems, however it has been found to leach lead under certain circumstances and therefore alternative non-leaded brass has been developed. Non-leaded brass is defined as brass with no lead added, which typically equates to a lead content of 0.1 percent to 0.25 percent by weight. There are several knowledge gaps associated with the manufacture and performance of in-line and premise plumbing components made using these new non-leaded materials, including operations and maintenance issues that may arise with their use, and their potential for leaching other compounds into the drinking water.
The project developed a series of topic papers that identified the issues and knowledge gaps related to the implementation of non-leaded components in the distribution system. Based on information from the topic papers, research needs were identified and a research agenda for non-leaded brass was developed, with projects identified in the following major issue areas: