New lead limits require action!

With the revised EU Drinking Water Directive (EU) 2020/2184 and the ECHA Positive List, the European Union is once again significantly tightening the requirements for drinking water quality – and the time to act is increasingly short. The focus is particularly on the impending ban on numerous leaded copper alloys in drinking water applications, as well as the reduction of the permissible lead limit from 10 to 5 µg/l. Placing on the market of products made from these materials for drinking water installations will also no longer be permitted in future.

Germany is not making use of the EU‑wide transitional period, but is implementing the requirements significantly earlier: the ban on the aforementioned alloys and the limit of 5 µg/l will already apply from 12 January 2028. Other countries are also bringing forward implementation into national law.

The aim of these regulations is to further improve health protection – particularly for vulnerable population groups – and at the same time to harmonise the use of suitable materials in contact with drinking water across the EU. Once the tightened requirements enter into force, only components and products that comply with the applicable limit values and are approved for use in drinking water installations may be used. This particularly affects the leaded brass alloys used to date, which will in future no longer meet the regulatory requirements and will therefore be gradually phased out of use.

Specifically, this means for users:

Planning and procurement processes must be switched at an early stage to compliant, lead‑free or low‑lead materials.
For new installations, refurbishments and maintenance measures, only approved products may be used.
A timely system changeover helps to avoid later retrofits, additional costs and possible operational interruptions.

According to the Drinking Water Ordinance, a lead limit of 5 µg/l will apply in Germany from 12 January 2028. From that date, only products (e.g. PURAPRESS®) may be used that ensure compliance with this limit at the point of use. An early switch to compliant materials creates planning and investment certainty and reduces regulatory risks – also with a view to possible future tightening, for example under European chemicals legislation.

On the safe side with SANHA®

For many years, SANHA® has ensured that the materials and products used comply with the applicable regulatory requirements. At an early stage – in 2009 – SANHA® began the consistent switch of its range for drinking water installations to the lead‑free material silicon bronze (CW724R). Through continuous investments in material development, testing procedures and quality assurance, SANHA® ensures that installers, planners and operators can at all times rely on products that meet current and future legal requirements. This gives customers a high degree of planning certainty – both in new builds and in the modernisation of existing buildings. When will you choose the original?