Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 6109 | Safe Drinking Water
Section 6109.10 | Prevention of Lead Contamination.

Effective: September 9, 2016
Latest Legislation: House Bill 512 - 131st General Assembly
(A)(1) As used in this section, "lead free" means:
(a) Containing not more than two-tenths of one per cent lead when used with respect to solders or flux;
(b) Containing not more than a weighted average of twenty-five-hundredths per cent lead when used with respect to wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, or plumbing fittings or fixtures.
(2) For purposes of this section, the weighted average lead content of a pipe, pipe fitting, or plumbing fitting or fixture shall be calculated by using the following formula: for each wetted component, the percentage of lead in the component shall be multiplied by the ratio of the wetted surface area of that component to the total wetted surface area of the entire product to determine the weighted percentage of lead of the component. The weighted percentage of lead of each wetted component shall be added together, and the sum of the weighted percentages shall constitute the weighted average lead content of the product. The lead content of the material used to produce wetted components shall be used to determine whether the wetted surfaces are lead free pursuant to division (A)(1)(b) of this section. For purposes of the lead contents of materials that are provided as a range, the maximum content of the range shall be used.
(B) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, no person shall do any of the following:
(1) Use any pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, plumbing fixture, including a drinking water fountain, solder, or flux that is not lead free in the installation or repair of a public water system or of any plumbing in a residential or nonresidential facility providing water for human consumption;
(2) Introduce into commerce any pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or plumbing fixture, including a drinking water fountain, that is not lead free;
(3) Sell solder or flux that is not lead free while engaged in the business of selling plumbing supplies;
(4) Introduce into commerce any solder or flux that is not lead free unless the solder or flux has a prominent label stating that it is illegal to use the solder or flux in the installation or repair of any plumbing providing water for human consumption.
(C) The owner or operator of a public water system shall identify and provide notice to persons that may be affected by lead contamination of their drinking water. The notice shall be in such form and manner as the director of environmental protection may reasonably require, but shall provide a clear and readily understandable explanation of all of the following:
(1) Potential sources of lead in the drinking water;
(2) Potential adverse health effects;
(3) Reasonably available methods of mitigating known or potential lead content in drinking water;
(4) Any steps the public water system is taking to mitigate lead content in drinking water;
(5) The necessity, if any, of seeking alternative water supplies. The notice shall be provided notwithstanding the absence of a violation of any drinking water standard.
(D)(1) Division (B)(1) of this section does not apply to the use of leaded joints that are necessary for the repair of cast iron pipes.
(2) Division (B)(2) of this section does not apply to a pipe that is used in manufacturing or industrial processing.
(3) Division (B)(3) of this section does not apply to the selling of plumbing supplies by manufacturers of those supplies.
(4) Division (B) of this section does not apply to either of the following:
(a) Pipes, pipe fittings, or plumbing fittings or fixtures, including backflow preventers, that are used exclusively for nonpotable services such as manufacturing, industrial processing, irrigation, outdoor watering, or any other uses where the water is not anticipated to be used for human consumption;
(b) Toilets, bidets, urinals, fill valves, flushometer valves, tub fillers, shower valves, fire hydrants, service saddles, or water distribution main gate valves that are two inches in diameter or larger.