Does copper tube meet the NSF Standard 61, and do the solder joints contain lead, which could affect the quality of the water?
Copper tube and all materials routinely used to install water-supply piping qualify under NSF Standard 61 and all other widely used standards and codes. The Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended in 1986, set lead content limits for pipes, fittings, solders and plumbing fixtures under which they may be legally considered to be lead free. NSF Standard 61 was developed in response to that law. It sets industry standards for the amount of lead and other contaminants plumbing tube and related devices may contribute to drinking water. All manufacturers and installers of copper building products must comply with the standard or risk sanctions. The use of lead solder in potable water systems has not been allowed for more than a decade.
