If you’re a manufacturer of water system products intended to convey or dispense water for human consumption and you plan to sell them in the United States, specifically in California in the coming year, you will want to continue reading this post.

In October, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation mandating lower lead levels for drinking water end point devices. This legislation lowers the allowable lead leach levels in drinking water endpoint devices from the current (5 μg/L) five micrograms per liter to (1 μg/L) one microgram per liter.

The law defines a drinking water endpoint device as:

“… a single device, such as a plumbing fitting, fixture, or faucet, that is typically installed within the last one liter of the water distribution system of a building.”

Examples of covered products include lavatory, kitchen and bar faucets, remote chillers, hot and cold water dispensers, drinking fountains, drinking fountain bubblers, water coolers, glass fillers and residential refrigerator ice makers.

Additionally, the law makes effective the following requirements:

  • Endpoint devices manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2023, and offered for sale in the state, must be certified by an ANSI-accredited third party as compliant with the Q ≤ 1 requirements in the NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 – 2020 Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects
  • Establishes a sell through date of July 1, 2023, for depletion of distributor inventory for devices that do not comply with the Q ≤ 1 requirements in NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 – 2020.
  • Requires that consumer-facing product packaging or product labeling of all compliant products must be marked “NSF/ANSI/CAN 61: Q ≤ 1” in accordance with the NSF 61-2020 standard.

While the AB 100 requirements will be mandatory in California in 2023, the current lower lead requirement in the NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 – 2020 standard is voluntary. However, it will become mandatory for all U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions that reference the standard on Jan. 1, 2024.

If you have questions relating to these requirements see the attached links or email lee.mercer@iapmo.org

See here for FAQs regarding the law and certification at IAPMO’s website.

See here for the text of CA AB100.