Survey Shows 95 Percent Of Retailers Complying With Lead Solder Ban Act

A survey of hardware stores and home centers conducted this summer by the Department of Environmental Protection shows most retailers are complying with the state's Plumbing System Lead Ban and Notification Act.

The law 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.

This summer, 378 stores were surveyed. Of these, 306 stores sell solder. Most of the 306 stores sell lead-free solder and 48 percent sell only lead free solder.

In 2009, only 5 percent of the stores selling solder were in violation of the Lead Ban Act: 4 percent were selling banned solder and 1 percent were selling restricted solder in the plumbing section. Some of the stores in violation of the Lead Ban Act in 2008 were surveyed again in 2009. All of these stores were found to be in compliance in 2009.

The majority of the stores in violation were first-time offenders. Store ownership often changes during the time between surveillance visits and new owners are usually not aware of the specific provisions of the Lead Ban Act.

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 of these facilities were not aware of the act or were not aware that the act applied to them.

DEP staff will continue routine and follow-up activities in 2010 to ensure these facilities remain in compliance.

To view the final report for 2009, visit DEP’s Drinking Water webpage. For additional information, contact Dawn Hissner, at 717-787-0130 or send email to: dhissner@state.pa.us.