Materials for products and components that come into contact with drinking water play a decisive role in the quality of drinking water. Currently, hygienic requirements for drinking water materials are regulated at national level within the EU. In Germany, for example, this is done through the Drinking Water Ordinance. The exact test criteria are defined in the assessment principles of the Federal Environment Agency.
With the entry into force of the EU Drinking Water Directive (Directive (EU) 2020/2184) in January 2021, these national requirements will be replaced by EU-wide regulations in the coming years. These changes will have a significant impact on the usability of numerous copper alloys that are important for the manufacture of products in contact with drinking water. The reason for this is that the lead content that is allowed to pass from metallic materials into drinking water will be halved.
Associations advocate planning and investment security
Therefore, the associations VDMA Armaturen, figawa and Kupferverband demand quick clarity about the future requirements and advocate planning and investment security for their members.
Materials containing lead are already subject to strict substance regulations in the EU in order to minimise environmental impacts and health risks. With the new regulations of the EU Drinking Water Directive, many proven materials can no longer be used. This has a significant impact on product manufacturing processes and the availability of alternatives.
The need for information in the industry is high, as the legal framework is complex and constantly changing. For this reason, VDMA Armaturen, figawa and the Copper Association are jointly offering a free webinar on 8 November 2023. The webinar is intended to help product manufacturers in particular to clarify the most important questions about future criteria from a legal perspective.
