In order for a product to earn "certification" for reduction of a contaminant, it must be able to reduce a specific amount of that contaminant. Below is a table showing the testing protocols currently being used to validate performance claims under the various NSF/ANSI drinking water standards. If you should have any questions regarding this information, please contact our Consumer Affairs Office.
Influent: The influent represents the average amount of the substance that is added to the water.
Effluent: The effluent represents the maximum concentration of that substance which is permitted in the product water after treatment. In cases where a percentage is indicated, this figure represents the minimum percentage reduction that is necessary to achieve certification.
| Substance | Average Influent | Maximum Effluent (or) % Reduction Required |
|---|---|---|
| 1,1,1-trichloroethane | 0.6 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L |
| 1,1,2-trichlorethane | 0.015 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| 1,1-dichlorethylene | 0.021 mg/L | 0.007 mg/L |
| 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene | 0.21 mg/L | 0.07 mg/L |
| 1,2-dichloroethane | 0.015 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| 1,2-dichloropropane | 0.015 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| 2,4,5-TP (silvex) | 0.15 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| 2,4-D | 0.21 mg/L | 0.07 mg/L |
| Alachlor | 0.04 mg/L | 0.002 mg/L |
| Arsenic (Pentavalent) | 0.05 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Arsenic (Pentavalent) | 0.3 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Arsenic (Total - distillers only) | 0.3 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| Asbestos | 107 to 108 fibers/L | 99% |
| Atrazine | 0.009 mg/L | 0.003 mg/L |
| Barium | 10 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Benzene | 0.015 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Cadmium | 0.03 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Carbofuran | 0.08 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L |
| Carbon tetrachloride | 0.015 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Chloramine | 3 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L |
| Chlordane | 0.04 mg/L | 0.002 mg/L |
| Chloride | 800 mg/L | 250 mg/L |
| Chlorine | 2 mg/L | 50% |
| Chlorobenzene | 2 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L |
| Chromium (hexavalent) | 0.3 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L |
| Chromium (trivalent) | 0.3 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L |
| Chromium (hexavalent & trivalent) (Std 53, 58) | 0.3 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L (hexavalent) 0.05 mg/L (trivalent) |
| Cis-1,2-dichloroethylene | 1.4 mg/L | 0.07 mg/L |
| Copper | 3 mg/L | 1.3 mg/L |
| Copper (distillers only) | 4 mg/L | 1.3 mg/L |
| Cyst (dust) (RO only) | Minimum 50,000/mL | 99.95% |
| Cyst (Live or Microsphere) | Minimum 50,000/L | 99.95% |
| Dibromochloropropane | 0.004 mg/L | 0.0002 mg/L |
| Dinoseb | 0.021 mg/L | 0.007 mg/L |
| Endrin | 0.006 mg/L | 0.002 mg/L |
| Ethylbenzene | 2.1 mg/L | 0.7 mg/L |
| Ethylene dibromide | 0.001 mg/L | 0.00005 mg/L |
| Fluoride | 8 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L |
| Fluoride (distillers only) | 8 mg/L | 2 mg/L |
| Hardness | 342 mg/L | 17.1 mg/L |
| Heptachlor (H-34, heptox) | 0.08 mg/L | 0.0004 mg/L |
| Heptachlor epoxide | 0.004 mg/L | 0.0002 mg/L |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.15 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| Hydrogen sulfide | 1 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| Lead | 0.15 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L |
| Lindane | 0.002 mg/L | 0.0002 mg/L |
| Mercury | 0.006 mg/L | 0.002 mg/L |
| Methoxychlor | 0.12 mg/L | 0.04 mg/L |
| Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) | 0.015 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Nitrate plus nitrite Nitrate Nitrite |
30 mg/L 27 mg/L 3 mg/L |
10 mg/L 10 mg/L 1 mg/L |
| O-dichlorobenzene | 1.8 mg/L | 0.6 mg/L |
| Particulate, Class I particles 0.5 to <1 μm | At least 10,000 particles/mL | >= 85% |
| Particulate, Class II particles 1 to <5 μm | At least 10,000 particles/mL | >= 85% |
| Particulate, Class III particles 5 to <15 μm | At least 10,000 particles/mL | >= 85% |
| Particulate, Class IV particles 15 to <30 μm | At least 10,000 particles/mL | >= 85% |
| Particulate, Class V particles 30 to <50 μm | At least 1,000 particles/mL | >= 85% |
| Particulate, Class VI particles 50 to <80 μm | At least 1,000 particles/mL | >= 85% |
| P-dichlorobenzene | 0.225 mg/L | 0.075 mg/L |
| Pentachlorophenol | 0.01 mg/L | 0.001 mg/L |
| Perchlorates | 0.130 mg/L | 0.004 mg/L |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | 0.01 mg/L | 0.0005 mg/L |
| Radium 226/228 | 25 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L |
| Radon | 4000 pCi/L | 300 pCi/L |
| Selenium | 0.1 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L |
| Simazine | 0.012 mg/L | 0.004 mg/L |
| Styrene | 2 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 800 mg/L | 250 mg/L |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.015 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Toluene | 3 mg/L | 1 mg/L |
| Total dissolved solids (non-reverse osmosis, non-distiller devices only) | 1500 mg/L | 500 mg/L |
| Total dissolved solids (reverse osmosis only) | 750 mg/L | 187 mg/L |
| Total dissolved solids (distillers only) | 1000 mg/L | 10 mg/L |
| Toxaphene | 0.015 mg/L | 0.003 mg/L |
| Trans-1,2-dichloroethylene | 2 mg/L | 0.1 mg/L |
| Trichloroethylene | 0.3 mg/L | 0.005 mg/L |
| Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 0.45 mg/L | 0.08 mg/L |
| Turbidity | 11 NTU | 0.5 NTU |
| Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) | 0.3 mg/L | 95% |
| Xylenes | 30 mg/L | 10 mg/L |
| Zinc | 10 mg/L | 5 mg/L |
