Why This Topic Matters
Consumers today are increasingly focused on what comes into contact with their water. Many conventional garden hoses made from PVC or vinyl may contain additives such as phthalates, plasticizers, or other substances that can leach into water under certain conditions.
Material quality, manufacturing processes, and product design all play an important role in reducing potential chemical exposure.
Drinking Water Safe Materials
ELEY products are manufactured using Drinking Water Safe Materials, including durable polyurethane hose and lead-free brass components. These high-quality materials are commonly used in applications involving drinking water contact and are selected for their durability, performance, and material quality.
Quick Summary
-
ELEY products are manufactured using Drinking Water Safe Materials, including lead-free brass components and durable polyurethane hose materials.
-
Materials used in water-contact applications comply with SDWA lead-free standards.
-
Outdoor watering products are regulated differently than permanent plumbing products and do not carry NSF-61 certification marks.
-
Independent testing measured tested substances below laboratory detection limits under evaluation conditions.
Understanding “Drinking Water Safe” Standards for Outdoor Watering Products
The U.S. Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974, tasking the EPA with establishing standards for drinking water quality. While the EPA regulates public water systems, it does not directly certify products.
NSF International is an independent organization that developed NSF/ANSI Standard 61, which establishes safety criteria for products that come into contact with drinking water. Certification indicates that a product has been evaluated for its potential to contribute contaminants to drinking water under established testing standards.
The term “drinking water safe” is often associated with NSF/ANSI Standard 61 (NSF-61), which evaluates the potential for contaminants to leach into drinking water from products used in plumbing systems.
Federal regulations treat outdoor watering products differently from plumbing products intended for permanent drinking water system installation. As a result, products such as garden hoses, hose reels, and outdoor watering tools are not subject to NSF-61 certification requirements in the same manner as plumbing system components. Federal regulations also exempt certain products used exclusively for non-potable services—such as outdoor watering—from specific lead-free requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). (See EPA guidance on exemptions)
As a result, outdoor watering products are not NSF-61 certified in the same manner that plumbing products are—even when the materials used may meet applicable standards.
However, ELEY products are manufactured using materials commonly used in drinking water contact applications, including lead-free brass components and durable polyurethane hose materials. Individual water-contact materials are NSF-61 certified where applicable.
Independent Testing
To better understand material performance, ELEY commissioned independent third-party testing using a controlled water-contact evaluation.
In this evaluation, an ELEY hose assembly with brass components was filled with tap water and allowed to sit for an extended period (48 hours) before the water was analyzed using EPA Method 200.8 for trace elements.
Result:
All tested substances, including lead, were measured below the laboratory’s Reported Detection Limit (RDL) under the conditions of this test.
Federal “Lead-Free” Requirements (SDWA)
ELEY products are manufactured using materials that meet the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) definition of lead-free.
Under the SDWA, “lead-free” is defined as a weighted average of no more than 0.25% lead content across wetted surfaces.
Analysis of product materials shows that ELEY products are well below this limit (≤ 0.018%).
What This Means for You
- ELEY products are manufactured using high-quality materials commonly used in drinking water contact applications, including lead-free brass and durable polyurethane hose materials.
- Independent testing measured evaluated substances below laboratory detection limits under the conditions of the test.
- Materials used in ELEY products comply with SDWA lead-free standards.
- All ELEY products are BPA-free. ELEY polyurethane hoses and nozzle/valve products are also PVC-free, phthalate-free, and lead-free.
Bottom Line
ELEY products are engineered using high-quality drinking water safe materials commonly used in drinking water contact applications, evaluated under controlled testing conditions, and manufactured to comply with SDWA lead-free standards.
