Concerns over lead release from brass into
drinking water have spurred development of
nonleaded brass alloys. Water meters, components,
and fittings manufactured from nonleaded
alloys (most containing less than or equal to 0.1-0.25% lead) are
increasingly being installed in water distribution
systems and premise plumbing. This article
reviews commercially available nonleaded-brass
alloys, including their leaching behavior, performance,
and costs.
Laboratory and field tests have found that
nonleaded brass components contribute much
lower levels of lead to water than do leaded
brasses under comparable conditions, and possess
mechanical strength and machinability properties
comparable to leaded brass components. Although
concerns remain about possible failure from de-
zincification and stress cracking, utilities switching
to nonleaded components have not reported compromised
performance. Individual nonleaded
components, although more expensive than their
leaded counterparts, actually result in overall
replacement costs of only 2-5% when factoring in
labor, equipment, and other expenses. Includes 42 references, tables, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. 101 - No. 7 |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 780 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 12 |
| Published : | 07/01/2009 |
