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Some ball valves are still made in the United States, but you need to check the exact valve series, not just the brand name. A manufacturer may make one valve line in the U.S. and another somewhere else.
As of August 31, 2026, U.S.-made examples include certain ball valves from Apollo, Hayward Flow Control, SharkBite, Gemini Valve, AVCO, Balon, and Plast-O-Matic. The right choice still depends on the pipe material, connection size, pressure, water use, and whether the valve has the certifications your system requires.
What Does “Made in USA” Mean?
The Federal Trade Commission has a specific standard for an unqualified “Made in USA” claim. The product must be all or virtually all made in the United States. Final assembly must occur in the U.S., significant processing must occur here, and all or virtually all important components must be of U.S. origin.
That is different from labels such as:
- Assembled in USA: Major assembly happens in the U.S., but some parts may be imported.
- Made in USA with imported parts: The manufacturer is making a qualified origin claim.
- Designed in USA: Design location does not tell you where the valve was manufactured.
- Ships from USA: The valve may have been made overseas and simply stored in a U.S. warehouse.
The FTC also warns that a U.S. company address or American brand name does not, by itself, mean a product was made in the United States.
Ball Valves Currently Identified as Made in the USA
The following are examples with manufacturer information supporting a U.S.-made claim. They are not interchangeable. Some are intended for household plumbing, while others are industrial valves.
| Manufacturer and series | Construction or connection | Useful context |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo 70LF Series | Lead-free bronze, female threaded | Plumbing, heating, and potable-water applications |
| SharkBite EvoPEX Ball Valve | Push-to-connect for PEX | PEX plumbing only |
| Hayward TBH Series | Thermoplastic true-union valve | Water, irrigation, tanks, and industrial piping |
| Gemini 309 Series | Carbon or stainless steel, 3-way | Industrial flow diversion |
| AVCO 1100 and selected related series | Stainless or carbon steel | Higher-pressure and industrial systems |
| Balon selected floating ball valves | Steel industrial valves | Oil, gas, and industrial service |
| Plast-O-Matic 3/8- to 2-inch ball valves | Thermoplastic | Corrosive-fluid and industrial water systems |
Apollo 70LF Series
Apollo's 70LF Series is a lead-free bronze two-piece ball valve. The manufacturer states that the series is designed, manufactured, and factory tested in the United States and lists it as Made in USA. It is offered for applications including plumbing, heating, cooling, and potable water.
This type of valve can make sense where a rainwater system transitions into conventional threaded plumbing.
Do not assume that every Apollo valve has the same country of origin. Check the exact series and item number.
SharkBite EvoPEX Ball Valves
SharkBite identifies its EvoPEX ball valve as Made in USA and says it is manufactured in Cullman, Alabama.
The important limitation is the connection system. EvoPEX valves are designed for PEX pipe. They are not direct replacements for a threaded brass valve or a PVC socket valve.
If your rainwater line uses PVC, polyethylene tubing, or threaded tank fittings, choosing this valve simply because it is U.S.-made would create unnecessary connection problems.
Hayward TBH True-Union Ball Valves
Hayward Flow Control identifies its TBH Series true-union ball valves as Made in USA.
A true-union ball valve has removable connections on both sides. You can usually remove the valve body for cleaning or service without cutting the main pipe.
That can be useful around:
- Cistern outlets
- IBC tote plumbing
- Pump inlet and outlet lines
- Irrigation manifolds
- Filter assemblies
Thermoplastic valves can also avoid some corrosion problems associated with metal components, provided the valve material is suitable for the water, temperature, pressure, and outdoor exposure involved.
Gemini 309 Series
Gemini Valve identifies its 309 Series three-port diverter ball valve as Made in USA. It uses carbon or stainless steel construction and is intended for applications where flow must be directed between different paths.
A three-way valve is usually more than a simple rain barrel needs. It can be useful in a larger system that directs water toward different tanks or equipment.
AVCO Ball Valves
AVCO lists several ball-valve families as Made in USA, including its 1100 Series two-way ball valves and several cryogenic, diverter, control, and high-pressure series.
These are mainly industrial valves. They may use stainless steel, carbon steel, or specialty materials and can have pressure capabilities far beyond what a normal rainwater tank requires.
Higher pressure ratings do not automatically make a valve better for a rainwater system. A simpler valve with the correct connection and material may be a better fit.
Balon Ball Valves
Balon identifies certain industrial ball valves as 100% Made in USA. One example is its Series F Class 900/1500 floating ball valve.
These are heavy industrial components rather than typical rain-barrel hardware. They illustrate why you should consider the valve's intended service rather than buying based only on country of origin.
Plast-O-Matic Ball Valves
Plast-O-Matic states that its manual and air-operated ball valves in sizes from 3/8 inch through 2 inches are molded, machined, and assembled in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. Its statement notes that some materials or components in larger 3- and 4-inch ball valves are imported.
That distinction is important. Country of origin can change according to valve size within the same manufacturer's range.
Which U.S.-Made Ball Valve Makes Sense for Rainwater?
Start with the plumbing system rather than the brand.
For a simple rain barrel or IBC tote, you generally need to know:
Pipe and Fitting Size
A 1-inch valve does not automatically fit a tank with a fitting that looks about 1 inch wide.
Check the actual connection standard, such as:
- NPT threaded connection
- PVC socket connection
- PEX connection
- Hose thread
- Compression fitting
- Flange
- Tank or bulkhead fitting
A bulkhead fitting is a fitting that passes through the tank wall and provides a sealed connection for plumbing.
Valve Material
Common materials include brass, bronze, stainless steel, PVC, CPVC, and polypropylene.
Evaluating comparing company valve options helps assess whether the selected components work together before purchase.
For a basic non-potable garden system, PVC or other suitable thermoplastic valves are often easy to connect to plastic piping.
Metal valves may be useful when threaded plumbing, higher temperatures, mechanical strength, or particular plumbing requirements matter.
Check that every wetted material is compatible with the water and anything that may be added to the system.
Full Port or Reduced Port
A full-port ball valve has an opening through the ball that is close to the inside diameter of the connected pipe. It causes less restriction than a smaller reduced-port valve.
This can matter in gravity-fed rainwater systems because there may not be much pressure available.
For example, water leaving the bottom of an IBC tote may already have modest pressure. A small valve opening, undersized hose, long pipe run, or several tight fittings can reduce flow further.
Pressure Rating
The valve must be rated for the maximum pressure and temperature it will experience.
Do not choose a valve only because it has an extremely high pressure rating. Most gravity-fed tanks operate at much lower pressures.
If a pump is involved, check the pump's maximum possible pressure, not just its normal operating pressure.
Potable Versus Non-Potable Use
Potable means suitable for drinking. Non-potable means water that is not intended for drinking.
If a valve will be part of plumbing intended to carry potable water, look for the certifications required for that application rather than assuming that brass, bronze, stainless steel, or a “lead-free” label alone makes the entire system safe.
Collected roof runoff is not automatically potable. Drinking-water use requires suitable collection, prefiltration, treatment, current laboratory testing, regular maintenance, and compliance with applicable local requirements.
U.S.-Made Does Not Automatically Mean Better for Your System
Country of manufacture can be an important buying requirement, but it does not solve compatibility problems.
A U.S.-made valve can still be wrong if it has:
- The wrong threads
- The wrong pipe size
- Too small a flow opening
- Incompatible seals
- Unsuitable plastic or metal
- An inadequate pressure rating
- No required drinking-water certification
- Connections that cannot be serviced easily
For rainwater equipment, a valve that fits correctly and can be maintained safely is more useful than an oversized industrial valve chosen mainly because of where it was manufactured.
How to Confirm a Ball Valve Is Still Made in the USA
Country of origin can change as manufacturers change suppliers or production locations.
Before ordering, check the specific model or series on the manufacturer's current website or technical sheet.
Look for clear wording such as:
- “Made in USA”
- “100% Made in USA”
- “Manufactured in [U.S. location]”
Be more careful with statements such as “American company,” “U.S.-based,” “engineered in America,” or “assembled in USA.” Those statements do not necessarily meet the same FTC standard as an unqualified Made in USA claim.
For a project that must meet government purchasing rules, also verify the exact requirement. “Made in USA,” the Buy American Act, and Build America, Buy America requirements are related concepts but are not simply interchangeable labels.
Choosing One for a Rainwater System
For most homeowners, the simplest approach is:
- Identify the pipe or tank connection first.
- Match the valve size to that connection.
- Decide whether you want threaded, socket, union, PEX, or another connection.
- Check that the valve material is suitable for the water, sunlight, temperature, and pressure.
- Look for a full-port design when minimizing flow restriction matters.
- Verify any required certifications for the intended water use.
- Confirm the exact model's current country-of-origin statement.
For a plastic cistern or irrigation line, a serviceable thermoplastic true-union valve may make more sense than an industrial stainless-steel valve.
For conventional threaded household plumbing, a U.S.-made lead-free bronze valve may be easier to integrate.
The best valve is the one that meets both requirements: the origin you want and the plumbing specifications your system actually needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Apollo ball valves made in the USA?
Some are. Apollo states that its 70LF Series lead-free bronze ball valves are designed, manufactured, and factory tested in the USA and identifies the series as Made in USA. Country of origin should still be checked for the specific Apollo model you plan to buy.
Are SharkBite ball valves made in the USA?
The SharkBite EvoPEX ball valve is identified by the manufacturer as Made in USA and manufactured in Cullman, Alabama. It is specifically designed for PEX piping, so it is not a direct fit for every rainwater system.
Are there PVC ball valves made in the USA?
Yes. Hayward Flow Control identifies its TBH Series thermoplastic true-union ball valves as Made in USA. Plast-O-Matic also manufactures several thermoplastic ball-valve sizes in the United States.
Does “assembled in USA” mean the same thing as “Made in USA”?
No. The FTC treats these as different claims. An unqualified Made in USA claim generally means the product is all or virtually all made domestically. An assembled-in-USA product can contain imported parts.
Is a U.S.-made ball valve automatically safe for drinking water?
No. Country of origin does not establish drinking-water suitability. Check the certifications, materials, and intended application of the exact valve. A safe potable rainwater system also requires appropriate collection, treatment, testing, and maintenance.
Should I use a full-port ball valve on a rainwater tank?
A full-port valve is often useful because it creates less flow restriction. That can be especially helpful in gravity-fed systems where available pressure is low. You still need the correct pipe size, material, and connection type.
How can I tell where a ball valve was manufactured?
Check the manufacturer's current product page, technical data sheet, packaging, and markings on the valve. Look for a country-of-origin statement for the exact model or series rather than relying on the company's headquarters location.
