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AB-1953 Lead plumbing.(2005-2006)



Current Version: 09/30/06 - Chaptered

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AB1953:v92#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 1953
CHAPTER 853

An act to amend, repeal, and add Section 116875 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to lead plumbing.

[ Approved by Governor  September 30, 2006. Filed with Secretary of State  September 30, 2006. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1953, Chan. Lead plumbing.
Existing law prohibits the use of any pipe, pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture, solder, or flux that is not lead free in the installation or repair of any public water system or any plumbing in a facility providing water for human consumption, except as specified.
Existing law prohibits the introduction into commerce of any pipe, pipe or plumbing fitting, or fixture that is not lead free, except for a pipe that is used in manufacturing or industrial processing.
This bill would, commencing on January 1, 2010, revise this prohibition to apply to any pipe or plumbing fitting, or fixture intended to convey or dispense water for human consumption, but would exclude from this prohibition specified devices.
Existing law defines lead free as not more than 8% lead when used with respect to pipes and fittings and not more than 4% by dry weight with respect to plumbing fittings and fixtures.
This bill would, commencing on January 1, 2010, revise the term “lead free,” for purposes of manufacturing, industrial processing, and conveying or dispensing water for human consumption, to refer not to the lead content of pipes and pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures but to a weighted average lead content of the wetted surface area of the pipes, fittings, and fixtures of not more than 0.25%, to be determined pursuant to a prescribed formula.
Existing law requires the State Department of Health Services to adopt building standards to implement the above prohibitions. Appropriate state and local building and health officials are required to enforce these standards.
By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state‑mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 116875 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

116875.
 (a) No person shall use any pipe, pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture, solder, or flux that is not lead free in the installation or repair of any public water system or any plumbing in a facility providing water for human consumption, except when necessary for the repair of leaded joints of cast iron pipes.
(b) No person shall introduce into commerce any pipe, pipe or plumbing fitting, or fixture, that is not lead free, except for a pipe that is used in manufacturing or industrial processing.
(c) No person engaged in the business of selling plumbing supplies, except manufacturers, shall sell solder or flux that is not lead free.
(d) No person shall introduce into commerce any solder or flux that is not lead free unless the solder or flux bears a prominent label stating that it is illegal to use the solder or flux in the installation or repair of any plumbing providing water for human consumption.
(e) For the purposes of this section, “lead free” means not more than 0.2 percent lead when used with respect to solder and flux and not more than 8 percent when used with respect to pipes and pipe fittings. With respect to plumbing fittings and fixtures, “lead free” means not more than 4 percent by dry weight after August 6, 2002, unless the department has adopted a standard, based on health effects, for the leaching of lead.
(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2010, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2010, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 2.

 Section 116875 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

116875.
 (a) No person shall use any pipe, pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture, solder, or flux that is not lead free in the installation or repair of any public water system or any plumbing in a facility providing water for human consumption, except when necessary for the repair of leaded joints of cast iron pipes.
(b) (1) No person shall introduce into commerceany pipe, pipe or plumbing fitting, or fixture intended to convey or dispense water for human consumption through drinking or cooking that is not lead free, as defined in subdivision (e). This includes kitchen faucets, bathroom faucets, and any other end-use devices intended to convey or dispense water for human consumption through drinking or cooking, but excludes service saddles, backflow preventers for nonpotable services such as irrigation and industrial, and water distribution main gate valves that are two inches in diameter and above.
(2) Pipes, pipe or plumbing fittings, or fixtures that are used in manufacturing, industrial processing, for irrigation purposes, and any other uses where the water is not intended for human consumption through drinking or cooking are not subject to the requirements of paragraph (1).
(3) For all purposes other than manufacturing, industrial processing, or to convey or dispense water for human consumption, “lead free” is defined in subdivision (f).
(c) No person engaged in the business of selling plumbing supplies, except manufacturers, shall sell solder or flux that is not lead free.
(d) No person shall introduce into commerce any solder or flux that is not lead free unless the solder or flux bears a prominent label stating that it is illegal to use the solder or flux in the installation or repair of any plumbing providing water for human consumption.
(e) For the purposes of this section, “lead free” means not more than 0.2 percent lead when used with respect to solder and flux and not more than a weighted average of 0.25 percent when used with respect to the wetted surfaces of pipes and pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures. The weighted average lead content of a pipe and pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, and fixture shall be calculated by using the following formula: The percentage of lead content within each component that comes into contact with water shall be multiplied by the percent of the total wetted surface of the entire pipe and pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture represented in each component containing lead. These percentages shall be added and the sum shall constitute the weighted average lead content of the pipe and pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture.
(f) For the purposes of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), “lead free,” consistent with the requirements of federal law, means not more than 0.2 percent lead when used with respect to solder and flux and not more than 8 percent when used with respect to pipes and pipe fittings. With respect to plumbing fittings and fixtures, “lead free” means not more than 4 percent by dry weight after August 6, 2002, unless the department has adopted a standard, based on health effects, for the leaching of lead.
(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2010.

SEC. 3.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.