No‐Lead Brass Service Valve Performance in Colorado River Water

Abstract

In accordance with the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, no‐lead (<0.25%) brass service valves must now be installed for new connections or as replacements throughout distribution systems. In this study, no‐ and low‐lead (<8%) red brass corporation stops and angle‐meter service valves were evaluated for 10 months using a flow‐through pipe rig with treated Colorado River water. In both no‐ and low‐lead valves, the fraction of tin increased from a minor (<10%) to a major (>40%) element on the wetted interior surface. Corrosion changes were consistent across valve and material types, except for the formation of a white precipitate of lead on the external surface of low‐lead angle‐meter valves and nonwetted fittings. Copper enrichment from potential dezincification was identified in the pack joint fitting crevice of the angle‐meter valves. Changing to no‐lead brass is not anticipated to result in increased service valve failure rates.