California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law a slew of state legislation. On the climate front, the governor signed bills that will ban gas-powered lawncare equipment and mowers as well as a bill that lowers minimum vehicle speed limit for municipalities. On the hospitality front, the California executive also signed bills to make takeaway cocktails and and remove restrictions on outdoor dining.
Also tucked into the long list of initiatives the governor signed off on is California Assembly Bill 100 that establishes new standards for lead safety in pipes. The new law, which takes effect January 1, 2023, prohibits the production or sale of plumbing fixtures and pipes that do not adhere to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2020, a standard established by the American National Standards Institute. The legislation clarifies a standard for product packaging or marketing that claims a product to be “lead-free.” Fixtures affected by the law include all devices that are designed to supply or dispense water for human consumption.
The bill is designed to reduce lead exposure for California residents by making compliance with the NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2020 standard required by law. Sponsors of the bill say the new law will help protect quality of drinking water in the Golden State and will help accelerate California drinking water infrastructure to move away from legacy lead pipes and fixtures, which pose a health risk to people of all ages but especially to children.
If you’re not sure if you have lead pipes or fixtures in your home, we can help. Call us to schedule an appointment, and we can inspect home plumbing systems for legacy lead pipes. If we discover lead pipes in your home, our professional plumbing engineers can help upgrade and modernize your home plumbing system to conform with the latest health standards and new California law AB 100.