The
water contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan has fueled concerns about how
much lead is coming out of taps in homes across India.
The
case study acted as an eye opener for many countries across the globe in
implementing strict regulations on manufacturing of pipes and faucets for
domestic use.
However,
India seems to ignore this on temperamental level. The shining faucets largely
used in Indian families, are actually made up of Brass, which causes lead
contamination in water and causes severe damage to human body.
Indian
Plumbing Today (IPT) feels our real estate developers, plumbing design
consultants and contractors should join hands together to put their full
efforts in providing a self-regulating mechanism where proper govt. regulations
and guidelines can be developed and are followed by Indian manufacturers for
fixtures and fittings.
Active
in Sinks and Faucet Industry since two decades, Anupam Sinks exposed the
reality behind shining and beautiful faucets widely used in almost every Indian
family.
According
to Centre for Science and Environment research, the sub-standard household
plumbing fixture contribute to contamination of lead in the drinking water, a
neurotoxin that affects the developing brains and nervous systems of children
and infants. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has permitted 0.01 mg/l(max) of
lead in drinking water.
This
amount, apart from old rusted plumbing in Indian household, is easily
contributed by sub-standard faucets which usually contain about 12 percent of
lead. Water sitting for several hours or overnight in a brass faucet can leach
lead from the brass faucet interior which may produce high lead levels in the
first draw of drinking water.
According
to Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of United States, the Household plumbing
is an alarming source of lead exposure and brass faucets are the single
greatest contributing source of lead in consumers' drinking water. The EPA
estimates that up to 20 percent of human lead exposure is the result of lead in
our plumbing, including faucets. Brass Faucets are banned in US under Section
1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
India's
veteran manufacturers of high quality stainless steel kitchen sinks &
faucets, Anupam Sinks, Director, Rajendra Garg informs, as compared to price
and appearance Brass Faucet has relatively low melting points that make it easy
to cast and easy to produce and sale in term of cost as well.
However,
Stainless Steel contains no lead, which in today's regulatory environment is a
big plus. Mr Garg believes that a combined effort by industry leaders and
government can ensure to keep our drinking water safe and hence prevent
irreplaceable damage.
Representative
Image
Source: ANI
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