Role of Independent Third Party Testing Organizations in Application of Water Treatment Technologies in Society NSF International ( NSF) Water Programs Fall 2009 Environmental Engineering Seminar Series

Agenda About NSF About NSF Product Standards Product Standards Product Certification Programs Product Certification Programs Water Programs Water Programs Water Distribution Systems Water Distribution Systems Drinking Water Treatment Units Drinking Water Treatment Units Wastewater Programs Wastewater Programs Summary Summary Q&A Q&A

About NSF’s Early Days Before NSF, no national standards existed in the U.S. for products that could directly impact public health, including food and water. Before NSF, no national standards existed in the U.S. for products that could directly impact public health, including food and water. NSF was founded to provide national, consensus standards development, testing and certification. NSF was founded to provide national, consensus standards development, testing and certification. Independent, not-for-profit organization (not government). Independent, not-for-profit organization (not government). NSF was established in 1944 by Professors at the School of Public (University of Michigan). NSF was established in 1944 by Professors at the School of Public (University of Michigan).

NSF Then and Now Called the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and is now NSF International. It is not the National Science Foundation. Called the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and is now NSF International. It is not the National Science Foundation. Initial focus was Foodservice Equipment; now includes water and the environment. Initial focus was Foodservice Equipment; now includes water and the environment. Initially 2 faculty and students and now: Initially 2 faculty and students and now: –700+ staff, scientists and engineers (many from MSU) and –500+ independent field auditors, worldwide. Began in one lab in the basement of the UMSPH and now consists of 250,000 sq. ft. in Ann Arbor facility. Began in one lab in the basement of the UMSPH and now consists of 250,000 sq. ft. in Ann Arbor facility. Initially work only with Food and Drug Administration and now includes the EPA, USDA, CDC, NIH. Initially work only with Food and Drug Administration and now includes the EPA, USDA, CDC, NIH.

NSF World Headquarters: Ann Arbor, MI  The Public Health and Safety Company  Stakeholders include Universities, Utilities trade associations and various government agencies.  Largest Testing Facility of its Kind in the World Today.

NSF Mission NSF International, an independent, not-for- profit, non-governmental organization, is dedicated to being the leading global provider of public health and safety-based risk management solutions while serving the interests of all stakeholders.

A Global Network SII SAI JIA WRc-NSF CSTB An-Shi-Fu WHO NSF Shanghai

NSF is a Collaborating Centre for The World Health Organization Water Safety and Treatment Water Safety and Treatment –Drinking Water Quality Guidelines –Recreational Water Safety Guidelines Food Safety Food Safety - Only organization to have these designations

NSF Standards More than 60 U.S. national standards. More than 60 U.S. national standards. Developed with input of all stakeholders, including Federal agencies, experts, industry and regulatory. Developed with input of all stakeholders, including Federal agencies, experts, industry and regulatory. Open and transparent process. Open and transparent process. ANSI “Audited Designator”. ANSI “Audited Designator”. Comply with OMB Circular A119. Comply with OMB Circular A119. Frequent updates. Frequent updates.

NSF Standards Development Process Manufacturers Users Regulators Regulators Consumers Laboratories Utilities Consultants Federal State Local Industry Representatives

The NSF Standards Process Consensus body. Consensus body. ANSI Public Comment. ANSI Public Comment. Request to Initiate: Develop Draft Standard & Joint Committee (Consensus Body – balanced representation) Request to Initiate: Develop Draft Standard & Joint Committee (Consensus Body – balanced representation) Ballots & Resolution of Appeals Ballots & Resolution of Appeals Council Public Health Council (CPHC) Ballots Council Public Health Council (CPHC) Ballots Standard Adopted NSF/ANSI Standard Adopted NSF/ANSI Standard Announced Standard Announced Public Review and Comment Public Review of Draft Standard Public Commenter's Right to Appeal Appellant’s Right to Appeal to ANSICPHC Technical Committee Public Review and Comment Public Review of Draft Standard Public Commenter's Right to Appeal Appellant’s Right to Appeal to ANSICPHC Technical Committee

NSF Council of Public Health Consultants (CPHC) Academic and regulatory professionals provide independent, public health ratification step Academic and regulatory professionals provide independent, public health ratification step No industry representation No industry representation Approx 35 members, includes FDA, CDC, EPA, CPSC, state and local health officials, International representatives Approx 35 members, includes FDA, CDC, EPA, CPSC, state and local health officials, International representatives Oversee and vote on all standards Oversee and vote on all standards Oversee certification programs Oversee certification programs

NSF Testing and Certification General Process Application Application Formulation and Toxicology Review Formulation and Toxicology Review Plant Inspection and Product Sampling Plant Inspection and Product Sampling Laboratory Testing Laboratory Testing Toxicology Review of Audit and Test Results Toxicology Review of Audit and Test Results Certification and Listing Certification and Listing Annual Follow-up with unannounced plant inspections Annual Follow-up with unannounced plant inspections

NSF Testing and Certification Programs Plastics Piping Plastics Piping Plumbing Products Plumbing Products Food Service Equipment Food Service Equipment Food Processing Equipment Food Processing Equipment Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals Drinking Water System Components Drinking Water System Components Pool and Spa Circulation Equipment Pool and Spa Circulation Equipment Wastewater Treatment Units Wastewater Treatment Units

NSF Testing and Certification Programs - continued Drinking Water Treatment Units Drinking Water Treatment Units Biohazard Cabinetry Biohazard Cabinetry Dietary Supplements Dietary Supplements Nonfood Compounds Nonfood Compounds Environmentally Preferred Products Environmentally Preferred Products Bottled Water Certification Bottled Water Certification Sustainability Sustainability Environmental Management Systems Environmental Management Systems

Domestic and International Accreditations OSHA NRTL ISO 14001

Widely Recognized and Accepted Regulators: Local Health Departments; State regulators; used in permit process Regulators: Local Health Departments; State regulators; used in permit process Water Utilities and City organizations. Water Utilities and City organizations. Code Bodies: plumbing; food safety; building. Code Bodies: plumbing; food safety; building. Manufacturers, Distributors, Retailers in purchase/performance specifications Manufacturers, Distributors, Retailers in purchase/performance specifications

New Initiatives Nanotechnology–Standards development for health effects. Nanotechnology–Standards development for health effects. Joint Venture in China Joint Venture in China Sustainability: e.g., sustainable forestry initiative, green house gases; travel and tourism; environmentally preferred products. Sustainability: e.g., sustainable forestry initiative, green house gases; travel and tourism; environmentally preferred products. Scrub Club - A Program To Keep Kids Healthy; its goal to raise awareness about the benefits of hand washing among families to improve the health of children. Scrub Club - A Program To Keep Kids Healthy; its goal to raise awareness about the benefits of hand washing among families to improve the health of children.

Standard 60 – Chemicals Standard 61 – Water Equipment Standard 14 – Plastic Piping Code Compliance - Plumbing Residential Point of Use and Point of Entry Drinking Water Treatment Standards Community Water Treatment Verification (EPA collaboration). Drinking Water

NSF Water Programs Municipal Water Supply Products Municipal Water Supply Products –Treatment Plant to Water Meter –Treatment Chemicals Drinking Water Treatment Devices Drinking Water Treatment Devices –Residential and Commercial Point of Entry and Point of Use –Community through collaboration with EPA under Environmental Technology verification (ETV)

NSF Water Programs - continued Plumbing Products Plumbing Products –Plastic piping –Water Conservation Devices (EPA Water Sense) Wastewater Programs Wastewater Programs –Residential via NSF Standards –Community via ETV Bottled Water Bottled Water

Municipal Water Supply Products Products are certified to NSF Standards to ensure that they do not introduce hazardous levels of contaminants into the water supply. Products are certified to NSF Standards to ensure that they do not introduce hazardous levels of contaminants into the water supply. –NSF Standard 60 –Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals –Health Effects –NSF Standard 61 –Drinking Water System Components –Health Effects

Municipal Water Supply Product – NSF 60 Treatment Chemicals Establishes minimum health effects requirements for treatment chemicals Establishes minimum health effects requirements for treatment chemicals Active ingredients: Is the chemical safe at its maximum Active ingredients: Is the chemical safe at its maximum use level? use level? Impurities: Are contaminants below maximum allowable levels? Impurities: Are contaminants below maximum allowable levels?

Municipal Water Supply Product – NSF 61 Drinking Water System Components Establishes minimum health effects requirements for materials in contact with water Establishes minimum health effects requirements for materials in contact with water What contaminants migrate or extract into water? What contaminants migrate or extract into water? Establishes minimum health effects requirements for materials in contact with water Establishes minimum health effects requirements for materials in contact with water Are contaminants below maximum allowable levels? Are contaminants below maximum allowable levels? Employs risk assessment for unregulated and unknown chemicals. Employs risk assessment for unregulated and unknown chemicals.

Examples of products covered by NSF 60 & 61 Well drilling aids, grouts, & casings Well drilling aids, grouts, & casings Well cables, pumps & cleaning chemicals Well cables, pumps & cleaning chemicals Treatment Chemicals: Treatment Chemicals: –Coagulation and flocculation –Corrosion and scale control –Disinfection and oxidation Equipment: Equipment: –On site chemical generators –Filtration Equipment –UV and Ozone & other disinfection & oxidation equipment –Chemical feeders and pumps

Plumbing Products Plumbing products are evaluated to make sure they do not contaminate water and that they meet physical durability Plumbing products are evaluated to make sure they do not contaminate water and that they meet physical durability NSF Standard 61 –health effects of materials NSF Standard 61 –health effects of materials Various Standards on product durability e.g. resistance to pressure testing, life cycle testing, dimensions, impact resistance Various Standards on product durability e.g. resistance to pressure testing, life cycle testing, dimensions, impact resistance

EPA WaterSense Program EPA’s Voluntary Program for Water Efficiency EPA’s Voluntary Program for Water Efficiency Similar to Energy Star Program Similar to Energy Star Program Pilot High Efficiency Toilets (1.3 gpf) Pilot High Efficiency Toilets (1.3 gpf) High efficiency bathroom faucets (1.5 gpm max flow) High efficiency bathroom faucets (1.5 gpm max flow) Shower Heads. Shower Heads.

EPA ETV Program, Water Centers and NSF Collaboration The EPA founded the ETV program in The EPA founded the ETV program in ETV Program designed to facilitate greater acceptance of new technologies. ETV Program designed to facilitate greater acceptance of new technologies. There are 2 ETV Water Centers There are 2 ETV Water Centers NSF administers the US EPA’s ETV Drinking Water Systems Center (DWSC) and the Water Quality Protection Center (WQPC) NSF administers the US EPA’s ETV Drinking Water Systems Center (DWSC) and the Water Quality Protection Center (WQPC)

ETV DWS Center History and Background October Start of ETV Drinking Water Systems (DWS) Pilot managed by NSF. October Start of ETV Drinking Water Systems (DWS) Pilot managed by NSF. October Formation of the ETV DWS Center managed by NSF. October Formation of the ETV DWS Center managed by NSF. –Evaluate innovative and emerging technologies like UV in –Focus on small systems technology needs. –State regulatory support. An on-going EPA program with new agreement An on-going EPA program with new agreement 2009.

Need for Data and Information. A 1985 study identified barriers to innovative technology use in drinking water. A 1985 study identified barriers to innovative technology use in drinking water. Some are relevant today: Some are relevant today: –Uncertainty of new technology capabilities. –No uniform guidelines for testing. –Exaggerated performance claims. –Technologies not tested in a “real world” setting. –Equipment said to be O&M “free”. –Limited EPA involvement in innovative & emerging technology testing.

ETV DWS Center Produces Information Independence of EPA and NSF. Independence of EPA and NSF. Technical efficacy with QA oversight. Technical efficacy with QA oversight. Typically performance tested in field when practical. Typically performance tested in field when practical. Process information (schematics, capacity, etc.). Process information (schematics, capacity, etc.). Ease of operation and operator experience evaluation. Ease of operation and operator experience evaluation. Electrical, pre- and post-treatment requirements. Electrical, pre- and post-treatment requirements. Consumables: chemicals and power. Consumables: chemicals and power. Waste disposal issues. Waste disposal issues.

ETV DWSC Reports, Protocols etc.  Verified performance of 30 drinking water treatment technologies since 2002, which are posted on the EPA’s ETV web site: dws.html dws.htmlhttp:// dws.html   Membrane Filtration Micro   Other Filtration Media Technologies  Arsenic technologies (media, RO, chemical coagulation)  Emergency response and water security systems  14 meetings or conference calls with stakeholders  One new UV protocol(10 total)

EPA ETV & NSF Water Quality Protection Center (WQPC) Verify technologies that protect ground- and surface waters from contamination Verify technologies that protect ground- and surface waters from contamination Location of 30 technology verifications and protocols: Location of 30 technology verifications and protocols: Center technologies fall into five main categories: Center technologies fall into five main categories: –Decentralized Wastewater Treatment –Watershed Protection –Urban Infrastructure Rehabilitation –Wet Weather Flow

EPA ETV & NSF WQPC Technologies Decentralized: Decentralized: –Wastewater Treatment Technologies (a generic protocol, applicable to a wide range of technologies has been developed) –Nutrient Reduction Technologies Watershed protection: Watershed protection: –Ballast Water Treatment Technologies –In-Drain Treatment Technologies –Mercury Amalgam Removal Technologies –Solids Separators for Flushed Swine Waste –UV Disinfection Technologies for Secondary Effluent and Reuse Applications

More EPA ETV & NSF WQPC Technologies Urban infrastructure: Urban infrastructure: –Coatings –Grouts –Pipe Liner Materials Wet weather flow technologies: Wet weather flow technologies: –Stormwater Treatment Devices –High-Rate Disinfection (Induction Mixers and UV Disinfection) –High-Rate Separation –Flowmeters –Urban Runoff Models

Regulations for Water Products in the USA Federal: Federal: –EPA through Safe Drinking Water Act –FDA 21 CFR for Bottled Water State: State: –Regulate public water and waste water –Storm water controls –Some regulate plumbing Counties: Residential drinking water and waste water and enforce plumbing codes. Counties: Residential drinking water and waste water and enforce plumbing codes. Cities – Plumbing and buidling codes. Cities – Plumbing and buidling codes.

Point of Use (POU) and Point of Entry (POE) Drinking Water Treatment 1968 U.S. Health Officials and Industry Representatives requested NSF develop Standards 1968 U.S. Health Officials and Industry Representatives requested NSF develop Standards Demonstrate product performance. Demonstrate product performance. Standardize testing and claims. Standardize testing and claims. NSF Standard 42; Aesthetic Claims. NSF Standard 42; Aesthetic Claims. NSF Standard 53; Health Claims e.g., Cryptosporidium reduction. NSF Standard 53; Health Claims e.g., Cryptosporidium reduction. NSF Standard 58; Reverse Osmosis. NSF Standard 58; Reverse Osmosis. NSF Standard 44; Softeners. NSF Standard 44; Softeners. NSF Standard 62; Distillation. NSF Standard 62; Distillation. NSF Standard 55; Ultraviolet. NSF Standard 55; Ultraviolet. NSF Standard 177; Shower Filters. NSF Standard 177; Shower Filters.

POU and POE Technologies Carbon typically as a solid block Carbon typically as a solid block Filters for Sediment Filters for Sediment Resins for ion exchange Resins for ion exchange High pressure membranes like Reverse Osmosis High pressure membranes like Reverse Osmosis Ultraviolet radiation Ultraviolet radiation Distillation Distillation Medias for arsenic Medias for arsenic

POU / POE System Types NSF Certifies Counter-Top Manual Fill. Counter-Top Manual Fill. Counter-Top Connected to Sink Faucet. Counter-Top Connected to Sink Faucet. Faucet Mount. Faucet Mount. Personal Water Bottle. Personal Water Bottle. Plumbed-In Under Counter. Plumbed-In Under Counter. Plumbed-In Under Counter to Separate Tap. Plumbed-In Under Counter to Separate Tap. Pour Through Pitcher. Pour Through Pitcher.

What is in a POU POE NSF Standard? Material safety; no contaminants produced by the product. Material safety; no contaminants produced by the product. Structural integrity; water tightness. Structural integrity; water tightness. Product literature; accurate consumer information. Product literature; accurate consumer information. Demonstration of performance for individual contaminant reduction claims. Demonstration of performance for individual contaminant reduction claims. Structural Testing Intent: product will not structurally fail when subjected to use conditions like water pipe pressure variability. Structural Testing Intent: product will not structurally fail when subjected to use conditions like water pipe pressure variability.

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

Conclusion: Third Party Certification avoids “buying a pig in a poke”! A common colloquial expression in the English Language to buy a pig in a poke, is to make a risky purchase without inspecting the item beforehand. Source Wikipedia

Third Party Standards requires advancement of science / engineering “We have to live today by what truth we can get today and be ready tomorrow to call it falsehood.” ~William James

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