- 90 -
Thursday
January 18, 1990
Part III
Environmental
Protection Agency
Drinking Water Coolers That Are Not
Lead Free; Notice and Request for
Comments
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with Soy/Canola Ink on paper that
contains at least 50% recycled fiber
-------
1772
Federal Register / Vol. 55, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 1990 / Notices
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[WH-FRL-3705-8]
Drinking Water Coolers That Are Not
Lead Free
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final and proposed lists of
drinking water coolers that are not lead
free and request for comments.
SUMMARY: This notice is issued pursuant
to the lead Contamination Control Act
Of 1988 (LCCA), Public Law 100-572,
enacted on October 31,1988, which
amends the Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA). The LCCA added section 1463
to the SDWA. This section requires that
the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), after notice and opportunity for
public comment, publish a list of
drinking water coolers, by brand and
model, which are not lead free. The list
must separately identify each brand and
model of drinking water cooler which
has a lead-lined water tank. In carrying
out this provision, EPA is to use the best
information available to the Agency.
EPA is to revise and republish this list
from time to time, as may be
appropriate, as new information or
analysis becomes available regarding
lead contamination in drinking water
coolers. This notice announces a final
list of water coolers which are not lead
free, including a final list of water
coolers with lead-lined tanks, and
proposes additional coolers to be
included on a future list.
DATES: Written comments on the
proposed list of additional coolers
should be submitted on or before March
5,1990.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Lead Docket, Office of Drinking Water
(WH-550), U.S; Environmental
Protection Agency, 401M Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20480. A copy of
supporting documents is available for
review at EPA in the Drinking Water
Docket, Room EB-15,401M Street SW.
Washington, DC 20460. To make an
appointment for access to the docket,
call (202) 382-3027 between 8:30 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter Lassovszky, Office of Drinking
Water (WH-550E), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 401M Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 475-8499.
Information also may be obtained from
the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
Callers within the United States (except
Washington, DC and Alaska), Puerto
Rico, and the Virgin Islands may reach
the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)
426-4791; callers in the Washington, DC
area and Alaska may reach the Hotline
at (202) 382-5533. The Safe Drinking
Water Hotline is open Monday through „
Friday, excluding Federal holidays, from
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
A. Purpose and Summary
On pctbbeF,31,1988, the Lead
Contamination Control Act of 1988 was
, enacted. This legislation provides for
programs to help reduce exposure to
lead-contaminated drinking water,'
especially for children. Its major
provisions include a mandate for the
Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) to order the repair, replacement,
or recall and refund of drinking water
coolers that EPA has identified as
containing lead-lined water tanks; a ban
on the manufacture or sale in interstate
commerce of drinking water coolers that
are not lead free; Federal and State
programs to help schools evaluate and
respond to lead contamination in
drinking water, including State and
Federal technical and (if appropriations
are available) possibly financial
assistance, and the expansion of lead
screening programs for children to be
administered by the Centers for Disease
Control. Under the LCCA, the term "lead
free" means,
with respect to a drinking water cooler, that
each part or component of the cooler which
may come in contact with drinking water
contains not more than 8 percent lead, except
that no drinking water cooler which contains
any solder, flux, or storage tank interior
surface which may come in contact with
drinking water shall be considered lead-free
if the solder, flux, or storage tank interior
surface contains more than 0.2 percent
lead. *•* * SDWA section 1461(1).
The LCCA further provides that, for
the purposes :of the Consumer Product
Safety Act, all drinking water coolers
identified by EPA on the list published
under section 1463 as having a lead-
lined tank shall be considered to be,
"imminently hazardous consumer
. products" within the meaning of section
12 of that Act (15 U.S.C. 2061). The
CPSC, after notice and opportunity for
comment, including a public hearing, is
required to , ,-'•..
issue an order requiring the manufacturers.. '
and importers of such coolers to repair, • ".
replace, or recall and provide a refund for
such coolers within 1 year after the
enactment of the Lead Contamination Control
Act of 1988. SDWA section 1462. ',
In addition, the LCCA requires that by
August 1,198:9,
each State shall establish a program * * * to
assist local educational agencies in testing
for and remedying, lead contamination in
drinking water from coolers and from other
sources of lead contamination at schools
under the jurisdiction of such agencies * * *
' [this] program shall include measures for the
reduction or elimination of lead
contamination .from those water coolers
which are not lead free and which are
located in schools. Such measures shall be
adequate to ensure that * * * [by February 1,
1990] * *" * all such water coolers in schools
under the jurisdiction of [local educational .
agencies] are repaired, replaced, permanently
removed, or rendered inoperable unless the
cooler is tested and found (within the limits
of testing accuracy) not to contribute lead to
* drinking water. SDWA section 1464(d).
Under the LCCA, the term "local
educational agency" means any local
educational agency as defined in section
198 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965; the owner of any
private, nonprofit elementary or
secondary school building; and the
governing authority of any school
operating under the defense dependent's
education system provided for under the
Defense Dependent's Education Act of
1978. The term "school" means any
elementary school or secondary school
as defined in section 198 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 and any kindergarten or day
care facility.
B. Leadjn Drinking Water Coolers
Investigation by EPA's Office of
Drinking Water revealed that water
coolers can sometimes be a significant
source of lead in drinking water. In 1988,
a report to Congress by the U.S. Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry entitled "The Nature and
Extent of Lead Poisoning in Children in
the United States" Warned that some
drinking water coolers may contain lead
solder and/or lead-lined water tanks
that release lead into the water they
distribute. This warning was based upon
an EPA analysis of 22 water coolers at a
U.S. Navy facility and data supplied to
the report's authors by EPA's Office of
Drinking Water. The source of. the lead
problem was lead solder and, in some
cases, lead-lined water tanks used
inside the water coolers. Based on
limited test results using EPA's guidance
document and testing protocol, EPA
believes that the most serious copier
, contamination problems are associated
Wjth water coolers that have water
reservoir tanks lined'With lead-
containing materials.
In response to a Congressional survey
. in the winter of 1988, three major
manufacturers, the Halsey Taylor
Company, EBCO Manufacturing
Corporation, and Sunroc Corporation,
indicated that lead solder had been used
-------
Federal Register / Vol. 55, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 1990 / Notices
1773
in at least some models of their drinking
water coolers. The manufacturers' .
submissions indicated that close to
1,000,000 water coolers contained lead
solder but that lead based solder was
not used on any water-way connections
after December 17,1987. None of the
submissions indicated that water tanks
had ever been designed or intentionally
manufactured with a lead lining.
Although the industry has existed since
before the 1920's, only very limited
information was provided concerning
water coolers manufactured prior to the
1960's; hence, the actual number of
coolers containing lead may be much
greater.
C. Public Comments on EPA's Proposed
Lists
On April 10,1989, EPA proposed at 54
FR14320 lists of drinking water coolers
that are not lead free and coolers with
lead-lined water tanks. Comments were
received from the Halsey Taylor
Company, EBCO Manufacturing
Company, Sunroc Corporation and the
International Bottled Water Association
(IBWA]. EPA is revising its proposed list
in response to comments received and is
inviting public comment on a proposed
list of additional drinking water coolers
identified as containing lead-lined tanks.
EPA also invites comment on deletion of
certain bottled water coolers
manufactured by the Sunroc
Corporation.
1. Drinking Water Coolers That Are Not
Lead Free
The Halsey Taylor Company
commented that they had manufactured
drinking water coolers for the Haws
Drinking Faucet Company (Haws] since
1984. These coolers have been
manufactured under the Haws brand
name for distribution and carry model
designations different from those used
by Halsey Taylor for Halsey Taylor
brand water coolers. Halsey Taylor
indicates that certain Haws brand
coolers manufactured for Haws by
Halsey Taylor from November 1984
through December 18,1987, should be
added to EPA's list of non-lead-free
coolers because these coolers contain
two tin/lead solder joints. The model
designations for these units are as.
follows:
HC8WT; HC8WTH; HC14WT; HC14WTH;
HC14WL; HC16WT; HC4W; HC6W; HC8W;
HC14W; HC4F; HC4FH; HC8F; HC8FH;
HC14F; HC14FH; HC14FL; HCBF7; HCBF7D;
HCBF7HO; HWC7 *; HWC7D *; HC2F;
HC2FH; HC5F and HC10F.
* These model numbers were previously
shown under the Halsey Taylor brand on the
EPA's proposed list of drinking water coolers
that are not lead free.
These models are included in this
notice under "Revised List of Drinking
Water Coolers that are not Lead Free."
Halsey Taylor has also stated that
Halsey Taylor model numbers 5656FTN,
5800FTN, and 8880FTN should be
deleted from EPA's list because these
water fountains do not actively cool
(i.e., have no refrigeration unit) drinking
water and are not subject to the
requirements of the LCCA. In addition,
they requested that model S3/5/10C be
deleted since they had previously
erroneously identified this as containing
a lead based solder on waterway
connections. EPA has deleted these
models from this list. Finally, Halsey
Taylor has provided an alternate list of
drinking water cooler catalog numbers
for the remaining Halsey Taylor coolers
on EPA's proposed list of coolers that
are not lead free. The proposed list
designates certain water coolers by
model series. Within a model series,
gallonage capacity and other variations
may exist. These variations are reflected
in the specific model number
designations which appear in product
catalogs. Halsey Taylor states that
owners are more likely to be familiar
with the model number designations in
the product catalogs. EPA is including
both sets of model designations in this
notice.
The EBCO Manufacturing Company
commented that their bottled water
coolers models CBI(H), DB2, and
DB1R(H) did not belong on this list. The
information regarding these models on
EPA's proposed list reflected
information contained in a letter by
EBCO dated January 21,1988, addressed
to the U.S. House of Representatives
Subcommittee on Health and the
Environment of the Committee on
Energy and Commerce. EBCO has
brought to EPA's attention another letter
dated February 12,1988, sent to the
Subcommittee, which stated that
subsequent to 1961, the company used
only lead free solder on all bottled
.water cooler parts in contact with water.
EPA has decided in.view of this
information to delete these models from
the list.
In addition, EBCO reports that upon
further investigation of products
manufactured many years ago, the ,
following additional models of pressure
bubbler coolers which EBCO previously
reported as containing one 50-50 tin-
lead solder joint should be deleted from
EPA's list as well. The company reports
that these models do not contain a lead
solder joint as previously reported but
rather a solid brass valve that is lead
free under the LCCA. EPA is therefore
deleting the following models from the
list:
WEEC03 WELH08
WEEH03 WEFH08
WEFC15 WETC05
WEFH03 WEEC10-OX
WELC07 WEEC10
WELC16 WEFC10
WW07T WEFC20-OX
WERC07 WEKC05
WFE10 WELC14
WEEC05 ' WEMC07
WEFC03 WEPC05
WEFC20 WETC10
WEFH08 DP5F
WELC08 WEEC13
WELH07 WEFC13
WEFH03 WEKC05-OX
WERC13 WELC05
WEEC03-OX WELC15
WEEC07 . WEMC13
WEFC08 WERC05
WEFC13-OX WEWC07
WEKC03 DP10F •
WELC13
Finally, EBCO states that water cooler"
models CP10-50, DP20-50, DP13A-50,
CP3-50 and DP14A-50/60 were
manufactured by EBCO exclusively for
export. The company further states that
"EBCO Manufacturing Company has
never manufactured these models for
sale in interstate commerce or sold
these models in interstate commerce.
* * *" Accordingly, EPA has deleted
these models from the list of drinking
water coolers that are not lead free.
The Sunroc Corporation informed
EPA in a letter dated April 20,1989, that
lead solder was never used to directly
join drinking water-bearing lines in
models reported to the EPA as having
lead solder as a secondary seal. Sunroc
indicated that the lead containing
secondary seal on the Sunroc units cited
in EPA's proposed list is a precautionary
backup to the primary seal. The primary
seal, a stainless steel weld, does not
contain lead and is the only material
that is in contact with drinking water.
Sunroc states that there is no reason to
believe,the primary seal will not hold'..
and that the secondary seal will not
come into contact with the drinking
water and that only a limited number of
such units were manufactured. Both the
Sunroc Corporation and IBWA have
requested that EPA delete models USB-
1, USB-3, T6Size 3, BC and BCH from
the list. EPA is deleting these Sunroc
models from this list. However, because
of the remote possibility of water
contact as described above, EPA solicits
public Comment on whether these units
should be included in EPA's next list.
Comments received from IBWA
support EBCO and Sunroc concerns as
described above.
2. Drinking Water Coolers With Lead-
Lined Tanks
Comments on EPA's proposed list of
coolers with lead-lined tanks were
received from the Halsey Taylor
-------
1774
Federal Register / Vol. 55, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 1990 / Notices
Company. From the serial numbers
published by EPA on the six models of
water coolers listed as having lead-lined
tanks, Halsey Taylor estimates that the
approximate dates of manufacture for
these units were 1957,1959 (2 units),
1965,1966,1969 and 1973 (2 units). The
company states that they have never
designed nor intentionally manufactured
a water cooler tank with any interior
lead linings. They state that they do not
deny that molten tin used to coat the
interior of tanks in the past may have
been accidentally contaminated at
certain times but the company believes
that any such contamination occurred
on an infrequent and random basis.
They stated that this belief is supported
by a series of geographically dispersed
water tests conducted by Halsey Taylor
and information gathered by Halsey
Taylor on water tests previously
conducted by Water Test Corporation
on Halsey Taylor coolers. The company
further indicates that they discontinued
coating the interior of tanks with any
material after June 1978. Given the
above assertions, Halsey Taylor
requested that EPA limit the scope of
any list to certain water coolers
manufactured during possible "suspect"
time periods.
In the April 10,1989 Federal Register
notice of its proposed list of drinking
water coolers with lead-lined tanks,
EPA stated that only a limited number
of water coolers (22) were examined and
that because of this limited sampling,-
EPA could not determine how many
other coolers within each model number
contain a lead-lined tank. While the
manufacturer has estimated the
approximate dates of manufacture of the
individual units cited by EPA, no
explanation nor information has been
provided to support a conclusion that
defective units are limited to those dates
or to the 1957 through 1973 time period.
In addition, while high lead levels in the
drinking water from a cooler can be an
indicator of a lead-lined water tank, low
levels do not necessarily mean the
absence of a lead-lined tank. Given the
limited nature of the data available to
EPA and the possible random nature of
the occurrence of lead linings stated by
Halsey Taylor, EPA has insufficient
basis to limit the list to any particular
time period(s).
Finally, in their comments, Halsey
Taylor also stated that EPA had found
drinking water coolers of other
manufacturers that were found to
contain lead levels in the interior
surface of their tanks above the 0.2%
limit of the LCCA. Halsey Taylor
inquired as to why EPA had not listed
those coolers. In testing drinking water
coolers and listing coolers with lead-
lined tanks, EPA takes into account the
accuracy in the testing procedure and
inherent variations that occur in all
results. In the models listed to date, EPA
has confidence that samples taken
clearly exceed the statutory limit taking
into account these limitations of testing
methodology. The models questioned by
Halsey Taylor (and other models) did
not meet this tebt. EPA is working to
improve testing'methodology for cases
where low level measurements are
required. However, EPA must continue
to list drinking water coolers within the
limits of accuracy of its analytical
techniques. j
II. Final List of Drinking Water Coolers
That Are Not Lead Free as of January 18,
1990 !
Halsey Taylor Company
The Halsey Taylor Company reported
use of lead solder in numerous models
of water coolers manufactured under the
Halsey Taylor brand name between
1978 and December 18,1987. The model
series numbers are:
WMA-l; SWA-1; S3/5/10D; S300/500/1000D;
SCWT/SCWT-A; DC/DHC-1; BFC-4F/
7F/4FS/7FS;
The model number designations which
appear in Halsey Taylor Product Catalogs
are:
WM8A-1, WM14A-1, WM14A-1-BL,
WM16A-1, SW4A-1, SW8A-1, SW14A-
1, S3D, S5D, SlOD, S300-2D, S500-5D,
S1000-10D, SCWT4A, SCWT8A,
SCWT14A, SCWT14A-FL, DC-1, DHC-1,
BFC-4F, BF&-4FS, BFC-7F and BFC-7FS.
In addition to these Halsey Taylor
models, Halsey'Taylor indicates that the
following Haws brand coolers
manufactured fpr Haws by Halsey
Taylor from November 1984 through
December 18,1987, are not lead free
because they cpntain two tin/lead
solder joints. The model designations for
these coolers are:
HC8WT; HC8WTH; HC14WT; HC14WTH;
HC14WL; HC16WT; HC4W; HC6W;
HC8W; HC14W; HC4F; HC4FH; HC8F;
HC8FH; HC14F; HC14FH; HC14FL;
HCBF7; HCBF7D; HCBF7HO; HWC7;
HWC7D; HC2F; HC2FH; HC5F and
HC10F."
EBCO Manufacturing Company
The EBCO Manufacturing Company
(whose products are also marketed
under the names "Oasis," "Kelvinator,"
"Aqua-Dry," "Culligan," and "Aquarius"
and were also marketed by
Westinghouse
-------
Federal Register / Vol. 55, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 1990 / Notices
1775
Washington, DC 20207. After notice and
opportunity for comment, including a
public hearing, the Consumer Product
Safety Commission shall issue an order
requiring the manufacturers and
importers of such coolers to repair,
replace, or recall and provide a refund
for such coolers. Since the hearing
process may be lengthy, interested
parties may call the CPSC HOTLINE (1-
800-638-2772) for a status update.
IV. Proposed List of Drinking Water
Coolers With Lead-Lined Tanks
EPA invites comment on the following
proposed additions to the list of drinking
water coolers with lead-lined water
tanks.
Halsey Taylor Company
Since the April 10,1989, publication of
it's proposed list of drinking water
coolers with lead-lined tanks, EPA has
examined several additional Halsey
Taylor tanks submitted by the Portland,
Maine and Fairfax Country, Virginia
School Districts, Colby College, Maine,
and the Minnesota State Health
Department and determined that they
contained lead-lined tanks. The model
and serial numbers of the units are as
follows:
Model series
WM14A •
WM14A
\tff\ 1 A
WT21A
WT21A •
LL14A
Serial No.
843034
843006
222650
64309550
64309S42
64346908
EPA is unable to determine, based upon
existing information, how many other
units under these model series contain
lead-lined tanks.
The following information is extracted
by EPA from a report containing
confidential business information dated
August 4,1988, from Mr. Robin G.
Munden, Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary, Household
Manufacturing to Frank Brauer,
Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The report related a manufacturing
malfunction discovered by Halsey
Taylor which resulted in a small amount
of lead containing coating material
being unintentionally applied to the
interior surface of copper storage tanks
and Halsey Taylor efforts to deal with
this problem. The report was obtained
by EPA from the CPSC and because of
confidential business information
contained in the report, EPA had
deferred publication of this information
pending discussion with Halsey Taylor.
EPA has since obtained agreement with
Halsey Taylor to extract from their
report the necessary information
required by the LCCA.
At the time of the detected
malfunction in February 1979, Halsey
Taylor coated the external surface of
water cooler storage tanks to improve
the efficiency of the refrigeration
system. According to Halsey Taylor, the
coating was applied by immersion of the
water storage tank into a vessel
containing hot molten solder. The
company states that prior to June 5,
1978, the solder coating contained 100
percent tin and both the internal and
external surfaces of the water tanks
were coated. After June 5,1978, the
company indicates that the
manufacturing process was changed
from coating both surfaces to coating .
only the external surface by closing all
openings to the inside of the tank. In
addition, the company reported that the
solder content was also changed from
100 percent tin to an alloy of 35 percent
tin/65 percent lead.
It was determined by Halsey Taylor
that a periodic and random malfunction
of a piece of manufacturing equipment
resulted in a pin hole opening which
allowed "a very small quantity" of
coating to enter and coat the internal -
bottom section of the storage tank. The
company conducted tests and estimated
that 5 percent to 10 percent of the 36,879
units manufactured by the problem
process during the problem period of
June 1,1978 through March 15,1979,
suffered from this defect. The company
stated that it undertook a number of
steps to correct the defective
manufacturing process including
switching to 100 percent tin for external
tank coating, identifying defective units,
investigating potential health effects,
and locating and repairing defective
units. According to the CPSC, this
corrective action is still ongoing.
A report of these voluntary activities
was submitted by Halsey Taylor to the
CPSC for review. The CPSC reviewed
the report, and concluded in August of
1979 that the information provided was
not sufficient to justify further action at
that time. The model series, catalog and
serial numbers of the suspect units
produced from June 1,1978 to March 15,
1979 as indicated by Halsey Taylor in
their report to CPSC include the
following:
Model Series
RC-8-A
HBW-8-A
WM-14r-SH
WM-16-A
SW-^-A
WT-8-A*
WT-14-W
SC-8-A
SC-14-SP
SC-16-W
S-3C-1
HT-1530
RC-12-A
MBW-13-A
WM-14-CB
WM-16-W
SW-6-A
WT-14-A
WT-16-A , SC-21-W
SC-14-A S-10-C
SC-14-SH WC-7-A
SC-20-A RWM-13-A*
S-5-C , WM-14-A
XP-16-W WM-14-BL •
RWM-8-A WM-20-A
WM-8-A* SW-13-A
WM-14-W . WT-14-CB '
WM-16-BL WT-2Q-A
SW-8-A SC-14-CB
WT-14-FL SC-16-A
WT-16-W LL-14-A
SC-14-FL/FR LC-1530
SC-14-W
"These models are listed here for
completeness of the above list; however, EPA
is not seeking comment since they are
included on the final list we are publishing
today.
RC-8-A
RWM-8-A
WM-8-A-1
WM-14-W
WM-16-BL-1
SW-4-A
WT-14-FL
WT-16-W
SC-14-FL/FR
SC-14-W
SC-21-W
S-5-C
HR-5-A
RP-6-A-3
OHT-103-A
CP-3-CB
RC-8-A-GF
RWM-8-A
WM-14-A-1
WM-14-BL-1
WM-20-A-1
SW-6-A
WT-14-CB
' WT-20-A
SC-14-CB
SC-18-A
LL-14-A
S-10-C
• HR-9-A
RP-10-A-3
02510-A
Catalog Model Numbers
CP-3-A
RC-12-A
HBW-8-A
WM-14 (SH)
WM-16-A-1
SW-8-A
WT-8-A
WT-14-W
SC-8-A
SC-14-SP
SC-16-W
TF-16-A
LC-1530
SJ-6-A-3
RP-19-A
WC-7-A-1
RC-12-A-GF
HBW-13-A
WM-14-CB
WM-16-W
SW-13-A
WT-14-A
WT-18-A
SC-14-A
SC-14-SH
SC-20-A
S-3-C-1
HT-1530
SJ-10-A-3
RP-20-W
XP-16-W
Serial Numbers of Suspect Water
Coolers
From .
00980145
01073003
01084580
01100810
01120865
01131313
01144339
01146676
01149627
01155757
01161125
. 01163301
01165651
01166945
01171401
01171837
01171883
01172665
01174794
01177500
01178071
01179579
To
00980183
01073005
01084580
01100897
01120899
01131347
01144349
01146699
01149699
01155999
01161199
01163400
01165662
01166969
01171578
01171837
01171883
01172800
01174794
01177763
01178099
01179582
From
00989888
01083066
01085966
01106342
01124024
01137619
01146300
. 01147266
01151659
01157432
01162830
01164093
01166410
01167845
01171600
01171845
01172329
01174353
01174800
01177771
01179101
01179759
To
00989932
01083070
01086225
01106344
01124048
01137623
01146399
01147299
01151699
01157449
01164901
01164112
01166699
01168499
01171609
01171856
01172653
01174422
01175039
01177784
01179200
01179761
-------
1776
Federal Register / Vol. 55, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 1990 / Notices
Serial Numbers of Suspect Water
Coolers—Continued
From
01180363
01180631
01181745
01163391
01184371
01186306
01187803
01 183600
01191512
01192414
011S6491
01196951
01197860
01199101
01200001
01201522
01202900
01204166
01204760
01205327
01205427
01206800
01207601
01208103
01208895
01212400
01214575
01215201
01215950
01217150
01217700
01219730
To
01180371
01180900
01182099
01183556
01184899
01186505
01188264
01188979
01192297
01192663
01196699
01196970
01198599
01199300
01200080
01201896
01203539
01204492
01204762
01205327
01205448
01206824
01207799
01208132
01208939
01213219
01214600
01215299
01216114
01217166
01217721
01220504
From
01180435
01181300
01182900
01183581
01185500
01187550
01188315
01189926
01192301
01195500
01196921
01197515
01198751
01199571
01200100
01202362
01203541
01204706
01205300
01205335
01206400
01207138
01207919
01208201
01209800
01214501
01214800
01215500
01216201
01217350
01217800
To
01180494
01181690
01183231
01184085
01186229
01187557
01188316
01190191
01192400
01195964
01196949
01197799
01199050
01199870
01200329
01202432
01203550
01204706
01205314
01205399
01206459
01207422
01208099
01208279
01209844
01214537
01214880
01215844
01216673
01217359
01218849
If an owner has any of the above
listed model series and a serial number
matching one of the above listed serial
numbers (both conditions must be met),
the drinking water cooler may contain a
lead-lined water tank. EPA advises that
owners of such coolers report this
information to the CPSC. Information
should be referred to the Consumer
Product Safety Commission,
Washington, DC 20207. After notice and
opportunity for comment, including a
public hearing, the Consumer Product
Safety Commission shall issue an order
requiring the manufacturers and
importers of such coolers to repair,
replace, or recall and provide a refund
for such coolers. Since the hearing
process may be lengthy, interested
parties may call the CPSC HOTLINE [1-
800-638-2772) for a status update.
V. EPA's Plans for Updating the Lists;
Guidance on Use of the Lists
The CPSC sent requests, dated
November 14 and 20,1988, to its field
offices to conduct additional
investigations of lead in drinking water
coolers. Information from this inquiry
has been reviewed by EPA but has not
revealed any additional units for listing.
Should other effqrts identify additional
drinking water coolers that are not lead
free, EPA will revise and update the list
as necessary. :
EPA invites comment on the accuracy
and completeness of the proposed lists
in section IV only. Anyone aware of
drinking water coolers that are not lead
free which are not included on the
above lists may submit this information
to EPA. Such information should include
the name of the manufacturer, brand
name, model number, and serial number,
identification or a brief description of
the lead-containing component, its
location in the water transport pathway,
and its percent lead content if known
and test method used. In addition, so
that EPA may verify the information
received, commenters are requested to
include their name, address, and source
of information relied upon to support
their findings.
While the presence of lead in drinking
water can indicate the presence of lead
in a water cooler, the public is reminded
that under the LCCA, the term "lead
free" is based uppn the lead content of
the component part itself rather than
upon an analysis of the lead content of
the drinking water in contact with the
component. Additionally, as stated
previously, before the CPSC may issue
an order requiring repair, replacement,
or recall and refund of drinking water
coolers with leadJined tanks, it must
provide an opportunity for comment and
public hearing. Because commenters'
claims may be challenged by
manufacturers, importers, or others,
commenters may pe required to provide
persuasive evidence regarding the tank
lining and should be prepared to do so
until such time as! the recall, repair, or
replacement of the cooler ordered by
CPSC has been completed.
Five factors contribute to high lead
levels in drinking Jwater dispensed by
coolers: (1) The presence of lead-lined
water tanks and lead-containing
components; [2) the presence of
corrosive waters (e.g., waters having
low pH or alkalinity); (3) prolonged
contact time betwjeen the water and
materials of construction containing
lead which can occur as a result of
infrequent use of the water cooler; (4)
age (i.e., water from newer coolers or
devices containing lead materials or
new plumbing connections containing
lead solder tends to have higher lead
levels); and (5) presence of lead in water
entering the cooler due to upstream
plumbing or other sources of lead.
Careful testing and interpretation of
results is necessary to distinguish the
water cooler as a cause of the lead in
the water as opposed to other sources
upstream of the cooler. In addition, any
existing problems may be exacerbated if
a building's electrical system is
grounded to the plumbing system.
Given the limited information
available to EPA on lead-containing
drinking water coolers, owners are
urged not to rely upon the above lists for
assuring the quality of drinking water
from water coolers. EPA recommends
that the drinking water from individual
coolers (as well as other outlets) in a
building be tested to determine if lead is
present in water from a particular cooler
and, if so, at what level. If lead is found
to be present, additional analysis should
be performed to determine whether the
source of lead is from the water cooler,
the plumbing, or both.
EPA has prepared a guidance
document and testing protocol which
explains how to test individual drinking
water coolers to determine the extent of
lead contamination from water coolers.
Although directed towards schools and
other educational institutions, this
manual, "Lad in School Drinking
Water," should prove useful for other
buildings as well. EPA urges that water
taps, in addition to those connected to '
coolers, be tested for lead where such
taps may be contaminated by lead and
supply water for drinking or cooking.
Copies can be obtained by writing to the
Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402. "Request Lead in
School Drinking Water, GPO stock
number 055-000-00281-9. Enclose a
check or money order for $3.25." Please
do not send cash.
Dated: January 10,1990.
Robert H. Wayland III,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Water.
[FR Doc. 90-1151 Filed 1-17-90; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M
-------
mO D'l'JOOtl
-------
------- |