Urban+ Achieves WaterMark Lead-Free Certification
By Urban+
Supporting Safer Drinking Water for Australian Communities
Urban+ believes public infrastructure should do more than simply perform, it should help protect the people who rely on it every day. For years, Urban+ drinking fountains and hydration solutions have proudly carried WaterMark certification, reflecting itsongoing commitment to quality, compliance, durability and long-term performance.
Today, Urban+ are proud to share that its range has also achieved certification under Australia’s new mandatory WaterMark Lead-Free Standard, an important milestone in helping support safer drinking water across schools, parks, councils and public spaces throughout Australia.
What Does “Lead-Free WaterMark” Actually Mean?
Australia is entering a new era of drinking water safety, with updated national requirements for plumbing products that come into contact with potable water.
From 1 May 2026, all applicable products must:
- Contain no more than 0.25% lead in wetted components
- Be independently tested and certified under the WaterMark Certification Scheme
- Be approved for installation under the National Construction Code (NCC)
This applies to drinking fountains, bottle refill stations, taps, valves and more, and from this date forward, only lead-free certified products can legally be installed in drinking water systems.
Importantly, compliance is about more than simply installing individual lead-free taps or fittings. True compliance relates to the complete plumbing product and all wetted components within the overall drinking water system, not just isolated internal parts. In other words, using lead-free certified fittings alone does not automatically make an entire drinking fountain or hydration station compliant under the new standard.
That’s why independent WaterMark certification of the complete product matters. It provides confidence that the product has been assessed, tested, and certified for safe use within potable water systems in line with Australia’s latest requirements.
Why This Matters?
Lead exposure, even in small amounts, can accumulate over time. Reducing potential exposure wherever possible isn’t just best practice — it’s an important step toward protecting long-term public health.
The transition to lead-free plumbing is designed to:
- Minimise potential lead exposure through drinking water
- Support healthier communities
- Align Australia with evolving global best practices
At its core, this shift is about creating safer environments in the spaces communities rely on most — from schools and playgrounds to parks, sporting precincts, and public facilities.
What This Means for Urban+ Clients?
With WaterMark Lead-Free certification, Urban+ products now offer added confidence for councils, architects, schools, developers and contractors specifying hydration infrastructure. Urban+’s certified solutions:
- Meet the latest Australian compliance requirements
- Are approved for potable water use
- Have been independently tested and verified for safety
For project team, this means:
- Greater confidence during specification
- Reduced compliance risk
- Future-ready infrastructure aligned with national standards
From May 2026, compliance isn’t optional, it’s essential. And Urban+ are already there.
Built for longevity, designed for safety
Achieving Lead-Free certification isn’t a departure from how Urban+ operates, it’s a natural extension of it. Urban+ is continually looking for ways to improve, evolve and deliver smarter long-term solutions for the communities that rely on Urban+ products every day.
Urban+ have always believed that truly durable infrastructure goes beyond physical strength. It’s about designing products that continue to perform safely, reliably and effectively throughout their entire lifecycle.
Urban+ drinking fountains are engineered to:
- Perform reliably in high-use environments
- Withstand harsh Australian conditions
- Deliver safe, consistent hydration over the long term
Because real durability isn’t just about how long a product lasts, it’s about how well it continues to serve the people using it.
Looking Ahead
The move to lead-free plumbing marks a meaningful shift in Australia’s built environment, and it also raises an important question:
Are existing public drinking water assets meeting the expectations of today’s safety standards, and are future projects being planned with those standards in mind?
Urban+ sees this transition as an opportunity to continue raising the benchmark for public hydration infrastructure while helping create safer, healthier community spaces for the future.
Whether upgrading ageing infrastructure, reviewing compliance obligations or planning future developments, The Urban+ team is here to help.
Beyond supplying products, Urban+ works closely with councils, schools, architects, and developers to provide practical guidance around:
- Hydration infrastructure planning
- Compliance requirements
- Accessibility considerations
- Long-term public space outcomes
Even if you’re simply looking for clarification, our experienced team is always happy to assist.
Urban+
📞 07 3382 7372
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.urbanff.com.au
🌐www.schools.urbanff.com.au