Abstract
Recently in Australia concerns have been raised regarding the contamination of municipal drinking water supplies with lead. This is of particular concern to children due to the impact of lead exposure on cognitive development and as such these findings have received much media attention. The response from legislators has been swift, and The Victorian School Building Authority has announced that all new schools and school upgrade works will only use lead-free tapware and piping systems. However, while the immediate replacement of lead-containing brass fittings may seem a logical and obvious response, it does not consider the potential implications on microbial contamination. This is particularly concerning given the increasing public health threat posed by opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs). This commentary explores this public health risk of lead exposure from plumbing materials compared to the potential public health risks from OPPPs. Non-tuberculous mycobacterium was chosen as the example OPPP, and the influence on plumbing material and its public health burden in Australia is explored. This commentary highlights the need for future research into the influence of plumbing material on OPPPs prior to any changes in legislation regarding plumbing material.
Highlights
The safety and security of Australia’s drinking water supply has been thrust into the limelight over the past several years
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) [26] stipulate that lead concentration in drinking water should not exceed 10 μg/L. This value is based on a World Health Organisation assessment that focused on the protection of those most at risk of lead exposure, being young children, infants, and pregnant women
Current data suggests that there is limited scientific evidence to support the removal of brass fittings as a means of reducing lead exposures
Summary
The safety and security of Australia’s drinking water supply has been thrust into the limelight over the past several years. Committee (published in July 2018 [7]) outlined approaches to minimize lead exposure from mains drinking water, including the running of taps for 30 secs at first use in the morning to flush fresh water through the tap components This directive has further heightened community anxiety around the issue of lead in drinking water, and its potential impact on community health. One area that has raised significant concern with several industry stakeholders and those within the scientific community is how replacement materials will impact the contamination of drinking water infrastructure with opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs). The removal and replacement of brass components with other materials may potentially impact the ability for bacteria to adhere and colonize such components This could lead to increased bacterial contamination of water outlets, and greater risk of infection to the community
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
