The Department of Environmental Protection recently completed its annual survey of hardware stores and home centers that sell solder and found 91 percent were in compliance with the Pennsylvania Plumbing System Lead Ban and Notification Act.

Under the act, materials not meeting the definition of “lead-free” are banned from sale or use in all plumbing systems in Pennsylvania in an effort to reduce lead in drinking water.

Specifically, the act prohibits the sale or use of 50/50 or 85/15 tin-lead acid core or solid wire solders or any leaded solder that does not contain a warning statement on the label and to restrict the use of all other leaded solders to non-plumbing use only.

Each summer, DEP inspects hardware stores and home centers to ensure that banned solder is not sold and that restricted solder is not sold in the plumbing section.

This summer, 322 stores were surveyed, including re-inspections at 28 stores. Of these, 248 stores sold solder. Most of the 248 stores sold lead-free solder and 48 percent sell only lead-free solder.

However, 9 percent of the stores selling solder were in violation of the Lead Ban Act: 4 percent were selling banned solder and 5 percent were selling restricted solder in the plumbing section. All of the stores that were re-inspected were in compliance with the Lead Ban Act.

The majority of the stores in violation were first-time offenders. Also, since 2005, surveillance activities have been expanded to routinely include the non-hardware types of facilities, such as auto parts, electronics and craft stores.

Most facilities were not aware of the act or were not aware that the act applies to them. DEP plans to continue routine and follow-up surveillance activities in 2009 to ensure these facilities remain in compliance.

To view the final report for 2008, visit DEP’s Drinking Water webpage or contact Dawn Hissner, at 717-787-0130 or send email to: dhissner@state.pa.us .

8/22/2008