Third party product certification for drinking water health effects
Kathryn Foster1, Kristin Licko2
1Water Division, NSF, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods
|May 31, 2023
Summary
Third-party certification ensures drinking water products meet safety standards in North America. This process, guided by NSF/ANSI/CAN 600, verifies product composition and chemical leachates for public health protection.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Third-party certification is mandatory for potable water system products in North America via plumbing codes and regulations.
- Consensus standards, developed with expert volunteers and stakeholder agreement, ensure product suitability for public health and safety.
- Certification bodies (CBs) evaluate product composition, conduct laboratory testing, and inspect manufacturing facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the third-party product certification process for potable water systems.
- To describe the reliance of this certification on NSF/ANSI/CAN 600 for health effects criteria and toxicological evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Review of the third-party product certification process.
- Description of reliance on NSF/ANSI/CAN 600 for toxicological criteria.
- Evaluation of chemical leachates from material extraction testing.
Main Results:
- Products meeting consensus standards receive a certification mark, indicating suitability for potable water systems.
- NSF/ANSI/CAN 600 provides the toxicological criteria for evaluating chemical leachates.
- The certification process involves composition review, lab testing, and facility inspections.
Conclusions:
- Third-party certification is essential for ensuring the safety and public health impact of drinking water products in North America.
- The robust evaluation process, underpinned by standards like NSF/ANSI/CAN 600, guarantees product compliance and suitability for potable water systems.
Keywords:
NSF/ANSI/CAN 600certificationdrinking water health effectsdrinking water system componentsdrinking water treatment devicesfilterspotable waterwater treatment chemicalsMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:14Testing Water Quality
144
When the quality of water for concrete preparation is uncertain, its impact on the setting time of cement and compressive strength of mortar is assessed by comparison with de-ionized or distilled water benchmarks. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) C1602 requires the setting times to be within 90 minutes of the control, British Standard (BS) 3146:1980 allows a 30-minute variance in the initial setting, while British Standards European Norm (BS EN) 1008 specifies initial setting...
144
01:19Quality of Water
136
In concrete preparation, the quality of water is paramount as it affects the strength and durability of the concrete. Potable water is usually preferred; however, it must not have excessive sodium or potassium to prevent compromising the concrete's integrity. Water quality is typically evaluated based on impurities such as dissolved solids, chlorides, and sulfates, and its pH value is ideally between 6 and 8. Even slightly acidic natural water may be acceptable unless it contains harmful...
136
01:22Waterproofing and Anti-Bacterial Admixtures in Concrete
104
Concrete's susceptibility to water absorption is due to the capillary action within the pores of its hydrated cement paste. This action draws water in, creating the need for waterproofing admixtures to prevent such penetration. The efficacy of these admixtures is contingent upon the water pressure, with variations arising from different conditions such as rain, capillary rise, or hydrostatic pressure in structures intended to hold water.
Waterproofing admixtures render concrete hydrophobic,...
Waterproofing admixtures render concrete hydrophobic,...
104