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Prepare for lead-free plumbing

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Date: 15/04/2026

Starting 2 May 2026, New Zealand will require lead-free plumbing for drinking water.  

This change will reduce the risk of lead exposure through drinking water, particularly for children, and support safer long-term public health outcomes. It aligns with international standards and reflects the important role plumbers play in protecting public health. 

The changes apply to work from 2 May 2026 and do not apply retrospectively.  

 

What you need to do 

In practice, this means you should now be: 

  • considering whether the products you are selecting for potable water systems are lead-free and compliant with the new requirements. 

  • checking supplier information and product specifications. 

  • inform consumers that lead-free products are now available and, where appropriate, support their use. 

 

Plumbing products covered by the lead-free provision 

Examples of products the lead in plumbing product provision will apply to include: 

  • copper alloy fittings 

  • stainless-steel braided hoses 

  • valves (such as valves for isolation, backflow prevention, alteration of pressure and temperature) 

  • taps and mixers 

  • water meters 

  • pumps (for use with cold and hot water supply systems) 

  • water heaters 

  • hose tap (when used with drinking water supply) 

  • residential water filtration equipment 

  • water dispensers (such as boiling and cooling units, drinking fountains and bottle fillers) 

  • fire sprinkler systems that are connected to cold water supply systems and are not isolated from fixtures and fittings intended to supply water for human consumption. 

Your lead-free compliance checklist 

These steps will help ensure your work not only meets the requirements, but also supports safe drinking water outcomes for consumers. 

  • Use lead-free copper alloy components for potable water systems. 

  • Ensure products under pressure are dezincification resistant. 

  • Avoid high-temperature brazing of brass fittings that reduces corrosion resistance. 

  • Confirm products are tested to:  

  • NSF/ANSI/CAN 372:2020 (lead-free) 

  • AS 2345:2006 (dezincification resistance) 

  • Verify IANZ-accredited test certificates or equivalent international certification (for example, WaterMark). 

Exclusions from lead free requirements  

Examples of products to which the lead in plumbing products provision will not apply include:  

  • Showers and baths for bathing, including shower and bath mixers  

  • Emergency showers, eye wash and face wash equipment  

  • Pumps used for irrigation, firefighting or other non-potable water purposes  

  • Firefighting water services and equipment  

  • Appliances, including clothes washing machines and dishwashers  

  • Commercial boilers associated with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems  

  • Sanitary fixtures such as toilets, cistern inlet valves, bidets and urinals  

  • Non-potable water systems such as recycled water systems  

  • Products used exclusively for non-potable uses such as manufacturing, industrial processing, irrigation, or any other use where the water is not anticipated to be consumed by people.  

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