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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2007
CONTACT: Greta Houlahan
Phone: (800) NSF-MARK
Ext: 5723
Email: houlahan@nsf.org
Guidelines Ease Concerns about Lead in Drinking Water
Ann Arbor, MI - NSF/ANSI Standard 61 has been updated to further protect the public from exposure to lead.
Changes to the evaluation criteria for lead extraction testing in the NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components–Health Effects have been adopted by the NSF Drinking Water Additives Joint Committee. These changes include a reduction in the standard’s total allowable concentration (TAC) of lead from 15 ug/L to 5 ug/L.
“As an independent, not-for-profit organization, we take the health and wellbeing of the public very seriously. This change to NSF/ANSI Standard 61 is consistent with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) requirements and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to protect drinking water and improve public health,” said Bob Ferguson, Vice President, Water Systems.
NSF/ANSI Standard 61 contains procedures to evaluate products that come into contact with drinking water and to screen out those which might contribute excessive levels of contaminants into drinking water. Most U.S. States and many Canadian Provinces require products used in municipal water distribution systems and building plumbing systems to comply with the requirements of Standard 61.
In addition to reducing the standard’s TAC of lead from 15 ug/L to 5 ug/L, other changes to the lead evaluation criteria in the standard include:
“EPA commends NSF for their continued efforts to reduce the public's exposure to lead," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water. "This revised standard is a constructive and cooperative step forward to lower the levels of lead in materials that come into contact with consumers' drinking water."
The standard has an implementation date of July 1, 2012, which was established to allow industry sufficient time to design and produce products from alternate materials to comply with both the revised NSF standard and other physical performance standards. Updates to the standard are contained in Annex F and available at www.nsf.org/info/standard61-FAQ.
NSF is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop American National Standards. The accreditation verifies that NSF’s standards development process ensures openness and due process. The NSF Drinking Water Additives Joint Committee, which consists of a balanced representation of regulatory officials, water utility representatives, and product manufacturers, is responsible for reviewing and updating NSF/ANSI Standard 61.
For more information, or if you have questions regarding the new requirements, please contact Pete Greiner, Technical Manager, NSF Water Treatment and Distribution Systems Program, at 1.800.NSF.MARK, ext. 5517, 734.769.5517 or greinerp@nsf.org.
Consumers can contact NSF’s Consumer Affair Hotline at 1-877-867-3435 or info@nsf.org if they would like more information about reducing water contaminant levels. Additional information is also available on NSF’s website at http://www.nsf.org/consumer/drinking_water/index.asp.
About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, non-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods (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. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.
