[Greenbuilding] permissible lead in "lead-free" faucets

[Reuben Deumling]

Perhaps you all already know this, but I've just learned how much lead (with
the potential to leach) can be in faucets themselves. The brass which is
used inside faucets has lead in it. Less than it used to, but the State of
California seems to think it is still too much. My research suggests that
the amount of lead permissible in faucets sold since 1994 in the US is 8%.
NSF 61/9 stipulates a performance standard to go with this requirement. Just
recently a CA law was passed that will require this level to be reduced  to
0.25% starting sometime in the near future. What I have not been able to
learn as yet is what an 8% lead containing faucet can be expected to leach
out under different scenarios (when new; when first used after water has sat
in it overnight, when old; after standing water has had a chance to be
flushed out)? Or for that matter what the range of concentrations is
plausibly for older (pre-1994) faucets?

Also I don't know what other brass fittings, such as are used in PEX
systems, and are not likely to be subject to the faucet 8% rule, might
plausibly leach. This is all quite new to me and I confess to being rather
astonished that so much lead is still around and about in these locations.

If anyone can help me with any of these numbers I'd be most appreciative.
Our household water was just tested and the lead level is 15ppm, which is
right at EPA's threshold. I'm assuming it is probably our old faucet, but
don't know. It could be lead solder in the copper pipes, or it could be
both.

Reuben Deumling