NSF International Drinking Water Product Standards

NSF Drinking Water Product Standards On-site Treatment Products Point-of-Use Treatment Units Point-of-Entry Treatment Units Public Water Supply Treatment Treatment Chemicals Treatment Equipment Water Distribution Equipment Pipes and Fittings Valves and Meters Faucets

On-site Drinking Water Treatment Unit Standards NSF/ANSI Standard 42: Aesthetic Claims. NSF/ANSI Standard 53: Health Claims. NSF/ANSI Standard 58: Reverse Osmosis Systems. NSF/ANSI Standard 44: Residential Ion Exchange Water Softeners. NSF/ANSI Standard 62: Distillation Systems. NSF/ANSI Standard 55: Ultraviolet Disinfection Systems. NSF/ANSI Standard 177: Shower Filters.

Technologies NSF Certifies Carbon Sediment Resins Reverse Osmosis Ultraviolet Distillation All other treatment medias

System Types NSF Certifies Point-of-Use and Point-of-Entry. Counter-Top Manual Fill. Counter-Top Connected to Sink Faucet. Faucet Mount. Personal Water Bottle. Plumbed-In Under Counter. Plumbed-In Under Counter to Separate Tap. Pour Through Pitcher.

Content of NSF Drinking Water Treatment Unit Standards Mandatory requirements for: –Material safety; no contaminants produced by the product. –Structural integrity; water tightness. –Product literature; accurate consumer information. Options, as selected by the Manufacturer: –Demonstration of performance for individual contaminant reduction claims.

Material Evaluation In depth review of all materials in contact with drinking water by expert toxicologists. Intent: No contaminants being added to the water by the treatment device. Two-part Evaluation: –Formulation review to ensure material ingredients are safe (NSF has 45,000 material formulations already on file). –Extraction testing. Aggressive test water with long exposure for optimum consumer protection.

Structural Testing Intent: product will not structurally fail when subjected to use conditions. Testing represents conservative, adverse conditions (high pressure) and life of use (repeat cycling) for optimum consumer protection. Determined based upon product type. Three general tests. –Burst pressure test (very high pressure, very short period of time). –Hydrostatic pressure test (high pressure, longer period of time). –Cyclic test (repeat cycling at pressures much higher than most homes).

Product Literature and Labeling Installation, operation and maintenance instructions for consumers. –Prepared in easy to understand terms. Data plate on the product to show key information. Performance data sheet so consumer is fully informed on the products performance.

Testing for Contaminant Reduction Claims Manufacturer selects from many options (chemical, microbiological, particulate). Tested with actual contaminated water. Pattern of water flow similar to home use. Two systems tested (duplicate) and both must pass.

Testing for Contaminant Reduction Claims Conservative Test for optimum consumer protection: –Tested at accelerated flows. –Tested at higher pressure. –Tested with water characteristics that are representative of extreme performance conditions. –Tested beyond capacity claims (minimum 120%, up to 200%). –Tested at very high contaminant challenge levels. –Manufacturer can claim only one capacity, whichever contaminant performs the worst.

Public Water Supply Treatment Standards Water Treatment Chemicals NSF/ANSI Standard 60 – Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals Water Treatment Equipment NSF/ANSI Standard 61 – Drinking Water System Components

NSF/ANSI Standard 60 Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals Health Effects. Developed to ensure treatment chemicals do not add unsafe levels of chemicals or contaminants to drinking water. Sets criteria to evaluate: –Chemical is safe at its maximum use level. –Contaminants associated with the chemical are below levels that might cause adverse human health effects.

NSF/ANSI Standard 60 Certification Requirements: Full formulation disclosure Toxicology Review Dosing 10 x maximum use level in water Analyze for residual ingredients and contaminants Evaluate against allowable concentrations Inspect manufacturing facilities annually –Verify formulations –Collect samples for testing

NSF/ANSI 61 Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects Covers health effects of materials in treatment and distribution equipment. Covers all products with drinking water contact from source water extraction and treatment to plumbing fittings. Does not evaluate product performance. Evaluates the amount of any contaminant added from a product to drinking water against health based criteria.

NSF/ANSI 61 Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects Certification Requirements: Full formulation disclosure Toxicology Review Expose products to various formulated waters Analyze exposure water for contaminants Evaluate against allowable concentrations Inspect manufacturing facilities annually –Verify formulations –Collect samples for testing

Water Distribution Products Plumbing and Water Distribution NSF/ANSI Standard 14 – Plastics Piping System Components NSF/ANSI Standard 61 – Drinking Water System Components

NSF/ANSI Standard 14 Establishes minimum physical, performance and health effects requirements for plastic piping system components and related materials. –Piping and Tubing –Fittings and Valves –Appurtenances –Thermoset Materials –Thermoplastic Materials –Joining Materials –Plastics Ingredients

Listings of NSF Certified Products Listings of NSF Certified Products are at: StandardsNumber of Certified Products Drinking Water Treatment Units 5600 Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals35700 Drinking Water System Components24400 Plastic Piping System Components35200

For More Information USA Dave Purkiss Phone: INDIA Vaneet Gupta Phone: