AWWA JAW65070

Standard 61, developed by NSF International andthe American National Standards Institute, is intendedto protect the public from potential adverse healtheffects from products in contact with drinking water.This research evaluated the Section 9 protocol of thestandard from the perspective of test water chemistryand propensity to leach lead.Results indicated that the Section 9 test, whichdetermines which products receive certification,could be improved to more closely simulate real-worldaggressive water conditions. Under the existingprotocol, plumbing products that meet NSF certificationrequirements for lead may still cause problemsfor water providers trying to comply with theUS Environmental Protection Agency Lead andCopper Rule.The first laboratory study aimed at assessing thepotential limitations of the Section 9 test, this workprovides much-needed insight into the test protocol andthe resulting certification of products and also proposesmodifications that would make the test more protectiveof public health. Includes 21 references, figures.



Keywords: Lead; Standards; Public Health; Testing