Brass parts continue to be sold and installed in homes, businesses and schools across Australia, leading to high levels of lead in drinking water, according to the Australian-Guangzhou ABC.
Public drinking water facilities in the cities of Jilang and Warrnambool were shut down in March after health officials found lead in the citation was higher than average. "Street drinking water facilities are not a major source of daily drinking water, and brass accessories used in Australian households may be even more worrying," said Charles Guest, chief health officer at (DHHS), Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services.
Peter Daly, chief executive of Master Plumbers Australia, said people should consult with licensed plumbers if they have concerns about home faucets and accessories. Lead is a long-term accumulation of toxin, people should listen to health authorities advice, but also do not overreact. The industry is currently working on alternatives to brass pipes and accessories. Master Plumbers is worried about cheap imported faucets, and our advice to consumers is simple-if you install faucets at home. Make sure they have watermarks and are installed by licensed plumbers. "
Brass faucet accessories slowly dip lead into drinking water. In 2016, three researchers at the University of Macquarie in Sydney tested drinking water for homes in New York. The results showed that 8% of household drinking water lead content was higher than the standard content in Australian drinking water guide (ADWG). By comparing the quality of water entering the home with the quality of water leaving the faucet, the study found: "Household plumbing fittings (faucets and connecting pipes) are an important source of lead pollution in drinking water." Even so, "plumbing parts containing a lot of lead are still available to consumers."
The influence of pipeline materials on drinking water is a new concern in the world. The opening of the new Perth Children's Hospital has been delayed by three years, in part because of high levels of lead in drinking water, which is believed to be caused by brass fittings in buildings. In a report by Western Australia's chief health officer, Tarun Weeramanthri, the fittings were found to have been corroded. The Queensland Building Council has confirmed that it will "continuously monitor plumbing products that may cause health or safety problems." The Australian Building Code Council (ABCB) has commissioned a study at the University of Macquarie in the new state to "determine the extent to which plumbing products and materials may cause lead levels in drinking water to exceed the levels permitted by ADWG".
"lead can permanently damage the brain and damage intellectual development, especially in young children," according to the state's government Better Health website, which declined to comment on the details of the bulletin, saying its contents should not be published. The Victorian Construction Department will not comment, saying it is still investigating Gillang's problems. The CPPCC Council of Victoria, the Australian Competition and Consumer Council and the Federal Health Secretary's office, Greg Hunt, declined to comment on the matter.