BWA clears the air on new water meters’ lead association
(The following is a press release issued from the Barbados Water Authority)
OVER the last few days, erroneous reports have been circulating in the social media, suggesting that there have been sudden deaths associated with lead from the new HYDRUS Ultrasonic water meters.
We want to assure our customers that there is no lead contamination of our water supply from the new meters, or any other device attached to the water supply network. It should be noted that the procurement of these meters followed stringent guidelines, consultation and approval of the Barbados National Standards Institute (BNSI). We have found no proof of their being rejected anywhere.
In addition, the meters:
1. Are made out of plastic and brass connections that DO NOT contain lead.
2. Are manufactured in Germany and have been tested and approved for use in the water supply industry, for metering of cold potable water and hot water by the German Environmental Agency under the German Drinking Water Ordinance of December 2013.
3. Meet or exceed the following specifications and testing methods, as well as those in the following Standards: OIML R 49-1 Edition 2006 (E) and ISO 4064-1:2005(E)/BS EN 14154-1:2005 +A1:2007(E) Class C and Class E1 specifications including all annexes.
4. Are also currently being used in the following twenty-two (22) countries: Germany, France, Ireland, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, China, St. Lucia, Bahamas, Jamaica, Colombia, Brazil, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Guinea and South Africa.
The Barbados Water Authority is charged with the responsibility of providing water and sewerage services, as well as the monitoring, controlling, managing and protecting the water resources in the public’s interest.
We take this mandate very seriously, and over the years, we have provided and continue to supply safe drinking water that exceeds the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Drinking Water Guidelines, and we have adhered to other appropriate industry standards in the choice of materials and equipment used in designing, constructing and operating of the entire water supply infrastructure.
The Barbados Water Authority, in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Ministry of Environment and Drainage, and the Environmental Health Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health, have a very comprehensive and long standing water quality monitoring programme. This programme involves the bacteriological and chemical testing and analysis of water samples, through the Government Analytical Services Laboratory and MDS Laboratories in Florida.
In addition, wide screen analysis of water samples is done on a bi-annual basis, and includes testing for heavy metals and pesticides. The most recent samples were done in March 2016.
Results from the water quality tests and analysis done over the years show that the lead content in our water is below detection limits, and meets the allowable drinking water standards. The analysis of the water samples is done through accredited laboratories. Furthermore, our water is classified as hard and tends to form a carbonate precipitate inside the pipes that would prevent lead leaching.
We again assure the public that the new HYDRUS Ultrasonic Water Meter manufactured by DIEHL Metering is free of lead and water provided by the Barbados Water Authority is safe to drink.