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How Plumbing Materials Can Influence Water Quality

By: Jonathan Simon on July 11th, 2019

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How Plumbing Materials Can Influence Water Quality

Homebuilders  |  PEX  |  Water Quality

The first post in our Healthy Home series reviewed the difference in the biofilm growth potential of PEX and CPVC piping while the second outlined the dangers that can occur if chemicals such as pesticides permeate PEX piping.

While the health risks exposed in those posts come from bacteria growing inside the pipe or materials that contact the outside of the pipe, this post focuses on the risk the pipe itself can present to water quality.

Water quality can be impacted when compounds from within the pipe are released into the water, as water flows through it, through a process called leaching. All materials have the potential to influence water quality in this way. The industry standard for preventing unsafe health impacts from plumbing systems due to chemical leaching is NSF 61.

FlowGuard Gold® CPVC is certified to NSF 61 under all water conditions. Not all materials can say that. Some PEX products are not certified to NSF 61 at elevated temperatures. In soft water (pH below 6.5), copper piping may leach metallic contaminants above the recommended limit for safe drinking water, and research shows that copper can damage a human protein that defends against Alzheimer's disease.

However, plastics have gotten the majority of the attention lately and the results of scientific studies focused on leaching clearly demonstrate that different piping materials pose significantly varying risks of leaching.

Many brands of PEX are known to leach gasoline components MTBE, ETBE, TBA and Toluene. MTBE in particular is a problematic leachate because it is a highly regulated water contaminant in multiple states following groundwater contamination incidents resulting from its use in gasoline. Research shows that some brands of PEX may exceed the regulated limits in some states.

In one court case, Defren v. Trimark Homes, PEX piping was claimed as the source of chemical leaching which resulted in a chemical poisoning diagnosis. That court case was eventually settled by the builder, plumber and PEX manufacturer.

In an effort to determine the impact of piping materials on water quality, scientists at Virginia Tech studied the impact of a variety of piping materials, including epoxy-lined copper, HDPE, PEX and CPVC. The study found “the short-term ability of all pipe materials, except CPVC, to impact water quality and aesthetics.” Additionally, the study noted that “CPVC was the most inert of the materials tested and had the least impact on water quality.”

 

161214_LUB_Water_OutOfFG-17FlowGuard Gold piping systems outperform the competition in the areas of biofilm growth potential,
chemical permeation and leaching.

 

Fortunately, builders and plumbing contractors have a healthy choice for cost-effective and easy-to-install piping and fittings. FlowGuard Gold pipes and fittings are routinely tested to the highest standards for water quality, are compatible with chlorine-based water disinfection and fully comply with NSF 61. FlowGuard Gold piping systems outperform PEX in the areas of water quality impacts, biofilm growth potential, and chemical permeation.

It’s time to take water quality seriously. Make the switch today to FlowGuard Gold piping systems.

 

Download Making the Switch to FlowGuard Gold CPVC brochure now