Brass pumps and lead content

[Diesel Pro]

Is there any real concern over lead leaching from a Procon brass pump?

[NH Maplemaker]

There still using brass gear pumps on new filter presses, so got to think it's not a big concern. Especially with the maple industry being so lead conscious these days!

[DrTimPerkins]

Is there any real concern over lead leaching from a Procon brass pump?

Brass pumps shouldn't be used for sap pumping due to the introduction of lead.

There is less concern for syrup pumping, unless you are:

1. Doing a lot of recirculation with your filter press, or
2. Moving syrup around a lot with multiple pumpings.

The issue is that you will transfer a small amount of lead each time syrup is pumped. If you recirculate or pump syrup repeatedly, then you can build up the lead level. Probably not a big deal if you are using all lead-free equipment for sap collection and evaporation, but if you're already adding lead in those processes, then you could be building up lead beyond the action level. In addition, if you're selling to a packer, then you're probably going to have to stop using brass pumps.

[blissville maples]

as far as filter press, lets think.......how much syrup does one consume in a year??? not much and even less lead, its not like we re adding liquid lead to the syrup. but its ok for the governemtn to let companies contaminate water supplies or use contaminated water to save money, I.E Michigan, and the PFOA issue in Hoosick falls vt and adjacent areas. its all ridiculous jargain, like on news recently- tax cigarettes to discourage people from using them and inadvertently save medicare money from people quitting smoking due to health costs----but in next room over the FDA is allowing High fructose corn syrup to be pumped into kids nd everyone else by the billions of pounds and sit back and say "derr why are all the young kids far, why is diabetes an epidemic"....and im just like wow why are we all turning into a bunch of idiots?!?!?!?! we're not even smart enough to see whats really going on!!! LMAO this world is totally screwed, my poor kids

[Diesel Pro]

I'm talking the Procon carbonator pump that is used on my home built RO. It just sort of dawned on me the other day.

Then again the pump is used on a beverage carbonator so???

Do they have a contact wear liner inside of a different material?

[Bucket Head]

"Then again the pump is used on a beverage carbonator".

That's it right there. Restaurants, the guy selling honey at the farmers market, the guy selling jam next to you at a craft show- everybody else involved in food making has to follow the already-acceptable level of lead (set by state or federal Gov. -which is a very tiny amount) but The International Maple Syrup Institute is telling all of us that have a brass fitting or valve, or a Wheeling sap pail that our syrup is unacceptable?

Obviously no one wants "additional " lead. But there is already a safe and allowable trace amount, set by state and federal government. Maybe they will lower the number but it can not be zero. I do not know how the "zero or else" policy from the International Maple Syrup Institute can stand. Everyone else can have the allowable trace amount but the syrup makers can not?

Someone needs to tell us what the "new" number (if there even is one?) is and we can strive for that.

I'll ad here that a third of my taps are galv. buckets and my canner was made prior to the lead free solder date. My 1991 R.O. machine has all brass fittings and valves on it. I sent a sample of my syrup out to be tested when this "zero or else" thing first came to light, and knowing Vermont accepted up to 250ppm. Mine tested at 42ppm. That is the very definition of an allowable trace amount.

Steve

[Bucket Head]

Back when galv. barrels were being banned, it was explained to me (rightly or wrongly?) that the chance for lead contamination was greatest when sap or syrup was allowed to set in a container for an extended amount of time. Not emptying buckets for days, sap setting in old galv. storage tanks and syrup stored in galv. barrels was to be avoided. Sap and syrup is not in contact very long with a procon pump, engine driven sap pump with a brass bushing in it, a gear pump or the brass fittings on my R.O.

Steve

[Tater]

The trace amounts of lead that leach out of the pump will likely not be enough to cause problems in syrup or a beverage. The problem with sap is that when the sap is turned to syrup, the lead has been concentrated to 40+ times the percentage it was coming out of the pump.

[maple flats]

Since all brass plumbing sold now must be lead free, how is it that a brass pump made for any food product could have any lead in it? Check with the manufacturer, that pump likely has ZERO lead in it.

[Diesel Pro]

I never would have even thought of this had I not seen pumps from a different mfr listed as low lead. Procon lists their series 3,4,5, and 6 pumps for reverse osmosis but: offer them in: Stainless Steel, Brass and Low Lead Brass (0.25% Max Lead) and from what I have seen most are just std brass. Looks like std brass is 1.5% but this same lead content is in the NSF models as well.

https://store-c59cb.mybigcommerce.com/content/Series%204%20Pump_spec.pdf


Mine is a 104B

[Diesel Pro]

Just a follow up, I was thinking that the pump body being brass was subject to wear, but now that I have had my pump apart I see that there is no contact with brass at any point.

[adk1]

There still using brass gear pumps on new filter presses, so got to think it's not a big concern. Especially with the maple industry being so lead conscious these days!

There are some that do however the writing is on the wall in the near future to eliminate the use of brass where it comes into contact with Maple Syrup. Leader's new clear Filter Press uses compressed air rather than the brass pump