Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Model Lead Based Paint Risk Assessor Practice Test

In which year did the US EPA enact a ban on the use of lead pipes and lead solder in plumbing?

1. 1983

2. 1987

3. 1992

4. 1995

The correct answer is: 1987

The year the US EPA enacted a ban on the use of lead pipes and lead solder in plumbing is 1986. The significant piece of legislation is the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1986, which prohibited the use of lead pipe and solder in drinking water systems in an effort to protect public health. This law established stricter regulations to reduce lead exposure from drinking water sources, recognizing the serious health risks associated with lead contamination. The ban aimed to minimize lead leaching into drinking water and ultimately to safeguard vulnerable populations, especially children, from the harmful effects of lead. Although there were additional measures and amendments introduced later, such as those in 1991 which further strengthened regulations and called for the removal of lead components from plumbing systems, these did not enact a ban but rather built upon the foundation established in 1986. Thus, while the 1986 legislation is the pivotal point for the ban on lead in plumbing, the answer provided does not reflect this critical moment in environmental health legislation.