Understanding how brass ball valves passing certification testing can cause elevated lead in water when installed

Simoni Triantafyllidou1, Meredith Raetz, Jeffrey Parks

  • 1Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.

Water Research
|April 24, 2012
PubMed
Summary

New brass plumbing devices can leach significant lead into drinking water, exceeding safe levels. Installed devices show higher lead levels than standard tests indicate, especially with flux present.

Related Concept Videos

Testing Water Quality01:14

Testing Water Quality

When the quality of water for concrete preparation is uncertain, its impact on the setting time of cement and compressive strength of mortar is assessed by comparison with de-ionized or distilled water benchmarks. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) C1602 requires the setting times to be within 90 minutes of the control, British Standard (BS) 3146:1980 allows a 30-minute variance in the initial setting, while British Standards European Norm (BS EN) 1008 specifies initial setting...
Quality of Water01:19

Quality of Water

In concrete preparation, the quality of water is paramount as it affects the strength and durability of the concrete. Potable water is usually preferred; however, it must not have excessive sodium or potassium to prevent compromising the concrete's integrity. Water quality is typically evaluated based on impurities such as dissolved solids, chlorides, and sulfates, and its pH value is ideally between 6 and 8. Even slightly acidic natural water may be acceptable unless it contains harmful...
Design Example: Designing a Residential Plumbing System01:25

Design Example: Designing a Residential Plumbing System

The design of residential plumbing systems requires carefully evaluating water demand, flow rates, and pressure dynamics to ensure both efficiency and reliability. The nature of water flow within pipes is defined by its Reynolds number, which classifies flow as either laminar (smooth) or turbulent.
Waterproofing and Anti-Bacterial Admixtures in Concrete01:22

Waterproofing and Anti-Bacterial Admixtures in Concrete

Concrete's susceptibility to water absorption is due to the capillary action within the pores of its hydrated cement paste. This action draws water in, creating the need for waterproofing admixtures to prevent such penetration. The efficacy of these admixtures is contingent upon the water pressure, with variations arising from different conditions such as rain, capillary rise, or hydrostatic pressure in structures intended to hold water.
Waterproofing admixtures render concrete hydrophobic,...
Bernoulli's Equation: Problem Solving01:16

Bernoulli's Equation: Problem Solving

A Venturi meter is essential for measuring fluid flow rates in pipelines. It utilizes the relationship between fluid velocity and pressure described by Bernoulli's equation. When installed in a sewage system, the Venturi meter accurately determines the wastewater flow rate by measuring pressure differences.
The first step is to compute the cross-sectional areas of the pipe and the Venturi throat to analyze the pressure difference indicated by the pressure gauge. Next, the continuity equation is...
Multiple Pipe Systems01:21

Multiple Pipe Systems

Multipipe systems consist of complex configurations of interconnected pipes designed to transport fluids efficiently across intricate networks. They are essential in engineering applications requiring precise control over flow distribution, pressure, and head loss. They are categorized into series, parallel, loop, and network configurations, each distinguished by unique flow characteristics and applications.
Series Configuration
In a series configuration, fluid flows sequentially from one pipe...