Gov. Tom Corbett has signedlegislation introduced by state Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne/Carbon) that will enhance the qualityand safety of drinking water by significantly lowering the lead content in pipes and other plumbing products.

Under the measure (Act 55 of 2014), the maximum allowable lead content in plumbing products is reduced from 8 percent to 0.25 percent. The new law also makes Pennsylvania's lead content standard consistent with a new federal law that took effect in January."Continually striving to improve the quality of our drinking water supply is essential to the public health mission of Pennsylvania," said Yudichak, who serves asDemocratic chairman of the state Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.According to the EPA, exposure to high levels of lead in drinking water can result in delays in physical and mental development, along with attention span problems and learning disabilities in children. In adults, water tainted by lead can cause increases in blood pressure and kidney problems.The state Department of Environmental Protection endorsed the new Yudichak law.