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Typical (brass) plumbing fixtures will explicitly state that they are lead free and be certified NSF-61, potable water, etc.
However, most stainless steel plumbing parts (like ball valves and schedule 40 pipe and fixtures, etc.) make no mention of potable water, lead, drinking, etc.
Assuming I source from US distributors (mcmaster, for instance) is it safe to assume that stainless steel plumbing fixtures are lead free, or even "zero lead" and are totally safe for drinking water ?
Thanks.
Just to be a smart azz if you check prop 65 stainless has chromium way worse some say.
To be truthful about lead stainless has no lead. Stainless has issues , have you ever seen a stainless boat? But for drinking water I would verify the seals were safe more than the metal. but as far as lead I would not be concerned.
Just for fun ; For many years 60/40 solder was used with copper plumbing but back in the 70’s we changed to non lead solder on water pipes for copper but at that time plastic pvc and cpvc became the standard of it was not copper , prior to this it was galvanized, and prior to galvanized lead pipe was commonI have found lead water supply pipes in homes that were pre 20’s but mostly only drains after that time.
To answer your question stainless will not have lead , but verify the seals are potable this is the maybe in my answer.
Stainless steel alloys do not normally contain lead.
Even plumbing fittings that do contain lead are not normally dangerous because the amount of lead that leaches into water is negligible.
In general, for a lead contamination to occur, the liquid must be exposed to the lead for long periods of time (months) or the lead must be available in a soluable form, such as a lead oxide. Unless you are drinking water from old pipes entirely made of lead, that is unlikely to happen.
