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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2008
CONTACT: Greta Houlahan
Phone: 734-913-5723
Email: houlahan@nsf.org
California Formally Adopts NSF/ANSI Standard 61 and More Stringent Requirements for NSF/ANSI Standard 60 into Waterworks Standards
New Regulations in Waterworks Standards Effective March 9, 2008
ANN ARBOR, MI – NSF International today announced that the revised California
Waterworks Standards, effective 3/9/08, will now formally require certification
for all drinking water treatment and distribution products used by public water
systems.
The Waterworks Standards provide criteria in the design, construction and operation
of public water systems. NSF/ANSI Standard 60: Drinking Water Treatment
Chemicals -- Health Effects includes requirements for chemicals that are
used to treat drinking water, while NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water
System Components -- Health Effects includes requirements for all devices,
components and materials that come in contact with drinking water.
NSF/ANSI Standard 60
Certification of products to NSF/ANSI Standard 60 has been required in the California
Waterworks Standards since 1994. The new regulations will now also require all
treatment chemicals to be tested on an annual basis by an ANSI-accredited certification
organization.
Forty-five states require chemicals to comply with NSF 60 requirements, and
40 states require chemicals to be tested and certified by an ANSI-accredited
organization. California, however, is the first state to require that chemicals
be tested on an annual basis.
According to Dave Purkiss, General Manager of NSF's Standards 60 and 61 Certification
Program, “These regulations were added when it was announced that an accredited
certifier required retesting of certified chemicals only once every five years,
a lag period considered too long by public health norms. The new requirement
for annual inspections and annual testing of treatment chemicals to NSF/ANSI
Standard 60 is a vital step in protecting public health.”
“NSF has always conducted annual testing, but we are aware of other certification
organizations that do not,” said Purkiss.
NSF/ANSI Standard 61
Certification of drinking water treatment and distribution equipment to NSF/ANSI
Standard 61 has been specified by many water utilities in California for several
years; however, the standard was not formally required in State regulations.
The new edition of the California Waterworks Standards, which were effective
on March 9, 2008, requires treatment and distribution equipment to be certified
to NSF/ANSI Standard 61 by an ANSI-accredited organization. The State plumbing
code has required that plumbing products be certified to NSF/ANSI 61 for several
years.
The current version of the California Waterworks Standards is available on the
California
Department of Public Health's website.
For more information on NSF/ANSI Standards 60 and 61 requirements or NSF testing
and certification services contact Dave Purkiss at 800.NSF.MARK, ext 6855, 734.827.6855
or purkiss@nsf.org.
About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, not-for-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.
