IAPMO Seeks Technical Experts for UPC, UMC Task Groups
IAPMO® is seeking applicants to serve as technical experts on Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC®) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC®) task groups.
NEWS RELEASE
Moen Partners with IAPMO to Expose Counterfeit Faucets Putting Americans’ Drinking Water at Risk
A recent NBC News investigation found that counterfeit plumbing products—many sold online and manufactured overseas—are entering the U.S. market with dangerous levels of lead and other chemical contaminants without proper testing and certification. These knockoff faucets can contaminate drinking water and pose a direct threat to public health.
In compelling testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Aaron Todd Bores, executive vice president of product development for Moen Incorporated, detailed the public health dangers posed by counterfeit and noncompliant plumbing products entering the U.S. market.
To underscore these concerns, Moen collaborated with IAPMO®—a global leader in product testing and certification—to independently assess the safety and compliance of widely available off-brand faucets and valves sold online.
“We enlisted IAPMO, the industry benchmark for plumbing product testing, to evaluate the leading off-brand faucets available to American consumers,” Bores said. “The results were deeply concerning.”
Key findings from IAPMO’s independent testing included:
- 17 of 19 faucets tested failed to meet health and safety standards for drinking water.
- 11 products leached lead above allowable levels—one exceeding the legal limit by more than 500 percent.
- 15 units contained dangerous chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, and organ damage.
- In separate testing, all six foreign-made pressure balancing valves failed to meet ASSE 1016 standards, with one model exceeding safe temperature thresholds by 750 percent.
Moen also testified to the alarming misuse of legitimate certification marks—including those belonging to IAPMO—by counterfeit products marketed through major e-commerce platforms. As a result of the testimony and these findings, the government is recalling nine Chinese-made faucets sold on Amazon.
IAPMO encourages consumers to look for products that bear the cUPC® certification mark, which confirms independent testing and compliance with rigorous standards for health and performance.
IAPMO is committed to protecting the safety of our water systems through trusted codes, standards, and product certification. We encourage code officials, policymakers, and industry professionals to verify certification marks and educate stakeholders about the risks of uncertified plumbing fixtures.
Conservation is Not Deprivation
In a recent Green Fire Times op-ed, Christoph Lohr, P.E., IAPMO vice president of technical services and research, makes the case that New Mexico is well-positioned to become a national leader in building-level water conservation. Lohr highlights Santa Fe’s proven conservation success, the state’s long-term water challenges, and the need for practical code solutions that help buildings reduce water demand while protecting public health.
ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI/CAN Series 22000-2026 Now Available Professional Qualifications Standard for Water Treatment Equipment Personnel
ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI/CAN Series 22000-2026, Professional Qualifications Standard for Water Treatment Equipment Personnel, has been designated as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and a National Standard of Canada by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), and is now available for purchase in both English and French.