Lead-Free Plumbing Systems
EXPLORE
SECURING SAFER DRINKING WATER
To further improve the quality of European drinking water, the European Commission has mandated a significant reduction in tap water lead content. The updated Drinking Water Directive reduces acceptable lead levels from 10 µg/l to 5 µg/l, highlighting the need for lead-free plumbing systems in buildings.
Pipelife has already begun the lead-free transition by expanding our portfolio to include products that comply with the tightening regulations in this Directive. With multiple lead-free fitting options available, we’re ensuring you have ample opportunity to align with the changes while also accommodating various installation and pricing requirements.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LEAD-FREE PLUMBING SYSTEMS
To comply with the latest European regulations, it is imperative your building provides reliably safe drinking water. Discover how our lead-free plumbing systems preserve water quality while boosting the value and longevity of properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. WHAT IS THE EU DRINKING WATER DIRECTIVE?
The EU Drinking Water Directive is a set of regulations and guidelines established by the European Union to ensure the safety and quality of drinking water across Member States. It prescribes minimum quality standards for water intended for human consumption and mandates regular monitoring and testing.
In 2021, the Directive was updated to reflect new public health considerations, particularly with regard to the amount of lead in building water supplies. The updated Directive has halved the acceptable amount of lead in drinking water from 10 µg/l to 5 µg/l.
2. WHY IS THE RECAST EU DRINKING WATER DIRECTIVE IMPORTANT FOR WATER INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS?
The recast EU Drinking Water Directive imposes new limits on the acceptable amount of lead in drinking water — from 10 µg/l to 5 µg/l. As EU-wide legislation, the Directive will require water industry professionals in all Member States to take measures to reduce the amount of lead in the water supply by, for example, replacing lead-leaching pipes and fittings with lead-free alternatives.
3. HOW CAN I COMPLY WITH THE NEW REGULATIONS IN THE UPDATED DRINKING WATER DIRECTIVE?
In order to comply with the updated Drinking Water Directive, the amount of lead in tap water must not exceed 5 µg/l. This requires the use of lead-free pipes and fittings in a building’s plumbing system to reduce the amount of lead that leaches into the water supply as much as possible.
Pipelife is offering a range of premium lead-free plumbing system components at different price points to ensure you have options during this transition and can keep costs to a minimum.
4. WHEN WILL THE UPDATED REGULATIONS IN THE EU DRINKING WATER DIRECTIVE BE ENFORCED IN MY COUNTRY?
The recast EU Drinking Water Directive entered into force in January 2021, and Member States had until January 2023 to transpose it into national legislation.
The Directive’s limit of 5 µg/l of lead in drinking water will apply throughout the EU from 2036. However, some countries are progressing faster — Germany, for example, is planning to implement the 5 µg/l requirement by January 2028.
Concurrently, new regulations regarding the evaluation and certification of drinking water products will apply to all newly manufactured products from January 2027. These regulations will be extended to all products on the EU market from 2033.
5. WHY ARE LEAD-FREE COMPONENTS NECESSARY IN PLUMBING SYSTEMS?
Lead-free pipes and fittings are essential in plumbing systems to ensure the safety and quality of drinking water. Lead can leach into drinking water during distribution if it flows through old pipes and fittings. This can lead to various health issues, such as developmental problems in children and cardiovascular diseases in adults.
The new EU Drinking Water Directive aims to minimize these risks by reducing the acceptable levels of lead in drinking water and highlights the importance of using lead-free pipes and fittings.
6. WHY ARE LEAD-FREE BRASS FITTINGS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN BRASS ALTERNATIVES?
Our lead-free brass fittings have a much higher copper content than leaded alternatives. Not only does this reduce the lead content of the brass to meet EU lead-free criteria (0.1%), but it also provides vastly superior corrosion resistance.
Beyond this, Pipelife lead-free brass fittings also include a significant silicone content (>2.7%), which ensures a high resistance to stress corrosion.
These technical improvements come at the cost of premium raw materials, increasing the overall cost of the fittings. With this in mind, we have also extended our range of PPSU fittings that can be used to supplement setups and keep costs down while ensuring systems remain lead-free.
7. HOW LONG DO PIPELIFE LEAD-FREE PLUMBING SYSTEMS LAST?
Pipelife lead-free plumbing systems are manufactured from high-quality raw materials to last at least 50 years with minimal maintenance.
8. HOW MUCH DO PIPELIFE LEAD-FREE PLUMBING SYSTEMS COST?
Our lead-free plumbing systems are competitively priced. They are bespoke solutions designed to the custom requirements of your building, and the price varies accordingly. Please get in touch with your local Pipelife partner for a detailed offer.
9. WHERE CAN I BUY PIPELIFE LEAD-FREE PLUMBING SYSTEMS?
Our lead-free plumbing systems can be bought directly from your local Pipelife partner. We are present in over 20 European countries, all of whom will be happy to field any of your purchasing inquiries. For more details, see the list of our operating countries at the bottom of the page or click here.
