For several years now, Agrival (Spanish Association of Faucet Manufacturers) has been observing a significant reduction in the minimum quality standards in the taps present in the Spanish market, mainly caused by the entry of imported product for which there is little control.
The problem is aggravated on many occasions, by the great ignorance of the final consumer when buying a tap. That is why Agrival informs the public of certain measures that must be taken into account to ensure choosing a faucet appropriate for their needs, and safe both functionally and for their health.
All taps should be made of an alloy that meets the minimum standards guaranteed by the UNE-EN 1982:2009 standard "Copper and Copper alloys. Ingots and castings" which sets at European level the quality required for the chemical composition used in the manufacture of faucet parts, to ensure that there is no risk of human contamination. We can not forget that the taps are in constant contact with water, the parts and finishes are subjected to wet conditions, and their materials must ensure that no oxidation can occur. Low quality chrome plating is toxic, and arsenic is present in most low-cost taps, which is why the use of this type of taps results in the health of the end user by "poisoning" in reduced quantities but admitted in the European Union.
It is important to know that the taps do not have a CE marking, so any product that is on the market with this badge is not correct and does not ensure its quality. It only denotes the great ignorance of those who have manufactured it in addition to questioning its reliability.
The "low cost" faucets do not meet the minimum requirements, their cheapening is reduced in parts that do not ensure neither their quality nor their durability. We care about the quality of the water that reaches our homes, jobs, hospitals, schools... but we forget that it is equally or more important that the tap through which it flows has the same quality commitments.
