NSF International's New Public Drinking Water Equipment Performance Certification Program Helps Protect The Water Supply From Contaminants Such As Cryptosporidium

Dow Chemical Company's ultrafiltration device becomes one of the first products certified by the NSF Public Drinking Water Equipment Performance Certification program

Ann Arbor, MI — NSF International, an independent organization committed to protecting public health and the environment, has launched a new Public Drinking Water Equipment Performance Certification program. Products certified to this program have been tested and verified to ensure they effectively remove Cryptosporidium, bacteria and viruses in drinking water that are known to cause gastrointestinal illness. The Dow Chemical Company's ultrafiltration product (DOW SFD-2880 module) is among the first to earn certification from NSF International for Cryptosporidium removal.

NSF International's Public Drinking Water Equipment Performance Certification program applies to equipment used to treat or produce drinking water. The certification program is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule ("LT2").

The LT2 Rule was designed to protect the public from illness due to Cryptosporidium and other contaminants in drinking water. The rule requires utilities to use treatment technologies to reduce exposures to these microorganisms, which are resistant to common disinfection practices. LT2 regulations also require membrane filtration products to undergo laboratory testing to verify the filters perform as specified.

In addition to meeting the LT2 Rule, NSF's new Public Drinking Water Equipment Performance Certification program requires that products meet NSF/EPA Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) program requirements, as well as NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects. NSF/ANSI Standard 61 is the nationally-recognized health effects standard for all devices, components and materials that come in contact with drinking water. More details about the program are available on NSF's website.

"NSF International certification assures water utilities that the certified products they install will perform as certified," said Bruce Bartley, NSF International Technical Manager. "NSF also conducts on-going inspections to verify that certified products continue to comply with the EPA's LT2 quality control requirements."

"By securing this third-party performance testing, Dow is better positioned to assure the quality of our DOW™ SFD-2880 modules for meeting the needs of the municipal/potable water market," said Timothy Wood, Dow Water & Process Solutions Global R&D Director. "Stakeholders that process, regulate or consume water produced using Dow components can be assured we are doing all we can to provide a quality product."

Dow's ultrafiltration product (SFD-2880 module) successfully met all of NSF International's testing and certification requirements and is listed in NSF's online listings. More information about Dow's products is available at dowwaterandprocess.com.

Additional information on NSF's Public Drinking Water Equipment Performance Certification program can be found on NSF's website or by emailing pdwep@nsf.org or calling (+1) 734-913-5785.

About NSF International
NSF International is an independent organization that certifies products and writes standards for food, water and consumer goods to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (www.nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment.

NSF developed the American national public health standards for all chemicals used to treat drinking water and materials/products coming into contact with drinking water. In 1988, the U.S. EPA replaced its own drinking water programs with these NSF standards, which are now the national standards for drinking water. NSF International is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

• NSF/ANSI Standard 60: Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals is the nationally-recognized health effects standard for chemicals used to treat drinking water.
• NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components is the nationally-recognized health effects standard for all devices, components and materials that come in contact with drinking water.

NSF has conducted evaluations of membrane and other public water supply products through the ETV Drinking Water Systems Center for the U.S. EPA since 1996. This program has produced 9 protocols, including 28 testing plans, for technologies designed to remove waterborne pathogens by various filters, as well as to disinfect or reduce chemical contaminants.

Additional NSF services include NSF Education and Training programs, safety audits for the food and water industries, nutritional/dietary supplement certification and management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations (NSF-ISR).

SOURCE: NSF International