Lead-free Solutions to Reduce Exposures

Vesconite’s bearing materials play a key role in combatting dangers to drinking water

Vesconite Bearings hopes to be part of the global program to reduce lead exposure from drinking water. It produces products resistant to corrosion-combatting chemicals (which are necessary to reduce lead leaching into the water system). It also provides lead-free bearing materials for pumps and water systems.

Fuel and paint were the most important sources of lead exposure in many countries. But, with lead removed or likely to be removed from these sources, drinking water has become an integral source of controllable lead exposure. Global governments are increasingly drawing attention to lead in water systems and setting guidelines and regulations for control.

CHEMICAL-CORROSION DOSING

For many countries, lead-service-line replacement is prohibitive because of the cost. Such is the case with the United Kingdom, for instance, where the cost of replacing lead piping has been estimated at between eight and ten billion pounds.

Lead service lines and components need to be replaced in the long term, but the short- and medium-term strategy is to reduce the likelihood of lead dissolving in the system by introducing a corrosion inhibitor, most commonly orthophosphate.

Vesconite can play a role in a corrosion-reduction strategy to combat lead exposure. Its bearing products are resistant to most chemicals and will not degrade in water systems. At the same time, Vesconite has the benefit of being lead-free and will not introduce additional lead into the system.

Orthophosphates and Vesconite products work particularly well where organic material is removed from water systems, since orthophosphates may increase bacterial growth on some plastics.

INSTALLATION AND REPAIR OF WATER SYSTEMS

Some countries have introduced legislation affecting the installation and repair of water utilities. This ensures that no additional lead is introduced into the water system and that there is a reduction in the quantity of lead in the system.

Such is the case with the United States Safe Drinking Water Act which prohibits the “use of any pipe, any pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture, any solder, or any flux, after June 1986, in the installation or repair of (1) any public water system; or (2) any plumbing in a residential or non-residential facility providing water for human consumption, that is not lead-free.” For utilities implementing this policy, Vesconite’s Hilube bearing material has NSF61 approval for use in potable water applications.

This certification should provide comfort and assurance to utilities that need to abide by the US’s Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final regulation on the “Use of Lead-Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water.” The September 2020 regulation requires that manufacturers and importers of components used in drinking water systems certify their products have met the requirements of the regulation within three years of the final rule publication date.

An example of a Vesconite Hilube pump bearing.

REPLACEMENT OF LEAD SERVICE LINES AND COMPONENTS

Strategies on whether lead service lines and lead components must be replaced entirely or partially differ between and within countries. For instance, Southern Germany prohibited lead pipes more than 100 years ago, while Northern Germany, which continued to use lead piping into the 1970s, is currently focusing on getting rid of lead service lines.

There seems to be a worldwide groundswell of interest in replacing lead piping since piping is the main cause of lead contamination in water systems. Other parts of the water system, while they may not be the priority source of lead exposure, are also not being ignored. Solder, fittings (including alloy fittings with high lead content), and service connections contribute to lead in tap water and remain a concern for the World Health Organization, as indicated in its Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.

Lead-containing bronze, for instance, has been seen as problematic for the bearings and impellers contained in pumps and water systems. Alloys such as zinc, tin or aluminum have sometimes replaced lead—this replacement will benefit the health of countries that introduce such products but these alloys tend to be adversely affected by chlorine dosing over an extended time. However, should lead-free, chlorine resistant, long-lasting Vesconite bearing materials replace these materials, they would lower maintenance time and costs while at the same time reducing lead exposure.

SOLUTIONS TO LEAD IN DRINKING WATER

Different countries have set the allowable quantities of lead in drinking water. However, the lower the levels the better. There are no safe levels of lead, say experts. This statement is notably true for children who can experience behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, anemia and, in rare cases, seizures, comas, or death with even low levels of lead in the blood.

However, lead exposure does not need to be a permanent threat to the world’s potable water supply. The tools are already available to combat the problem as is the will to take it on. All that is needed today is to bring the two together.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Vesconite Bearings is a world-leading manufacturer of low-friction, low-wear polymer bearing materials for a wide range of industries. Selling to over 100 countries, these include the pump, agriculture, railways, mining, heavy transport, hydro, renewable-energy, earthmoving, marine, and construction industries. For more information, visit www.vesconite.com.

MODERN PUMPING TODAY, April 2022
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