BEULCO relies on lead-free innovations to ensure drinking water hygiene in accordance with the EU positive list of materials.
The European Commission wants to continue to ensure the supply of high-quality drinking water, taking into account the latest scientific recommendations. Therefore, the European Drinking Water Directive (DWD) 2020 was revised. The new revised DWD 2020/2184 came into force in 2021 and was to be implemented in all EU member states by January 12, 2023.
Datum: 18.09.2024 | Lesezeit: 6. Min.
Focus on materials that come into contact with drinking water
The update of the Drinking Water Directive focuses primarily on materials that come into contact with drinking water. The changes relate to current quality standards for microbiological, chemical and indicator parameters. These also include new requirements for lead concentrations. The permissible lead concentration has been reduced from the current 10 µg/l at the tap to 5 µg/l. These parameters must be met in EU countries by January 2036. Germany has decided to adopt the new parameters into the Drinking Water Ordinance, so that the values will become mandatory from 2028, and only components that come into contact with drinking water and are made of such materials may be sold and installed.
DWD and ECHA
In addition, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has drawn up an EU positive list of materials, which, when it comes into force, will regulate that from the end of December 2026 only products made from the materials listed there may be placed on the market. This list sets out hygiene requirements for products that come into contact with water, such as pipes and fittings, and works in conjunction with Article 11 of the Drinking Water Directive. The list stipulates that these materials may have a maximum of 0.1% lead by mass for lead-containing alloys such as brass and gunmetal.
With the introduction of the new EU positive list of materials, the EU is taking a significant step towards ensuring drinking water hygiene. This list includes numerous materials and products for use in drinking water systems and aims to protect water quality and consumer health.
Both regulations work together to reduce the lead content in materials and drinking water.
What does this mean specifically for distributors and customers?
From December 31, 2026, no products may be placed on the market that exceed this new, stricter limit for lead. For many companies, this means a fundamental revision of their product range and production processes. The changeover to lead-free materials is not only necessary to comply with current regulations, but also puts the companies placing the products on the market in a future-proof position, especially with regard to possible future regulations that could assess lead limits and mass fractions even more strictly.
From January 1, 2028, only compliant products may be installed in the installations. This results in a transition period of 12 months in 2027, during which products with a permissible lead release of 10 µg/l at the tap may still be installed.
Neue Zulassungen
Ab 2026 werden dann auch voraussichtlich neue Zulassungssiegel auf den Markt kommen, die die bereits bestehenden Siegel wie DVGW und KIWA ergänzen bzw. ablösen werden.
Im Rahmen dieser Entwicklungen hat BEULCO bereits vor über 10 Jahren begonnen, auf das bleifreie Material CW724R (Cuphin/ Ecobrass) umzusteigen und das Produktsortiment entsprechend umzustellen. 2026 wird das gesamte Portfolio an Produkten für den trinkwasserberührenden Bereich aus bleifreien Alternativen bestehen. Neben CW724R werden auch weitere bleifreie Legierungen getestet.