California often leads the way in environmental issues, and its newest regulation reducing lead in the water stands to benefit us in the other 49 states.

California's Assembly Bill 1953 reduces the allowable amount of lead content in pipes and plumbing parts from 8 percent to .25 percent by 2010, thus reducing the levels of toxins that leach into the water supply. And while the rest of the country may not follow California's lead by mandating this very soon, it's not as though companies who make plumbing parts only sell in California.

We saw lots of new materials being used in pipes and fittings at KBIS—the kitchen and bath show. Pipes made from new ceramic formulations or materials used by NASA on the space shuttle, none of which contain lead. You know the saying, "As goes California…."