Push to reduce the amount of lead in drinking water by changing taps A push is on to remove a dangerous source of lead in our drinking water, with building authorities recommending that billions of dollars worth of taps and other plumbing be replaced. While our drinking water is generally safe, there is a fear that poisonous lead may be leaching from brass fittings. The Australian Building Codes Board is about to release a new draft National Construction Code, with a key change to the allowable amount of lead from fittings - reducing it from the current 6 per cent to 0.25 per cent, the standard already used in countries such as the US and Canada.