This standard primarily deals with Chlorine removal, appearance and Taste and Odor claims.

A chlorine reduction claim means the system reduces the concentration of chlorine in the water. This category is broken down into

classes that represent a certain level of Chlorine removal.

Class I - 75% or greater Chlorine reduction

Class II - 50% - 74% Chlorine reduction

Class III - 25% - 49% Chlorine reduction

A performance claim for Particulate removal means the system removes particles of a certain size based on the following classes:

Class I - Reduces 85% of particles 0.5 to < 1 microns in size

Class II - Reduces 85% of particles 1 to < 5 microns in size

Class III - Reduces 85% of particles 5 to < 15 microns in size

Class IV - Reduces 85% of particles 15 to < 30 microns in size

Class V - Reduces 85% of particles 30 to < 50 microns in size

Class VI - Reduces 85% of particles equal to or greater than 50 microns in size

This standard is concerned with contaminants that may pose a health risk such as:

Your Drinking Water Standards...

Lead

Volatile Organic Compounds (V.O.C.'s)

Inorganic Chemicals

Cysts

Radon

Turbidity

Pesticides and Herbicides

Trihalomethanes (THM's)

Volatile Organic Chemicals (V.O.C.'s)

A performance claim for V.O.C. reduction means the system reduces the concentration of all of the following contaminants. Some

of these chemicals can be tested individually for performance claims.

Alachlor

1,2-Dichloropropane

Styrene

Atrazine

cis-1,3-Dichloropropylene

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane

Benzene

Dinoseb

Tetrachloroethylene

Carbofuran

Endrin

Toluene

Carbon Tetrachloride

Ethylbenzene

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

Chlorobenzene

Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)

1,1,1-Trichloroethane

Dibromochloropropane (DBCP)

Heptachlor

1,1,2-Trichloroethane o-Dichlorobenzene

Heptachlor Epoxide

Trichloroethylene

p-Dichlorobenzene

Hexachlorobutadiene

Trihalomethanes (THMs)

1,1-Dichloroethane

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

m-Xylene

1,2-Dichloroethane

Lindane

o-Xylene

trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene

Methoxychlor

p-Xylene

1,1-Dichloroethylene

Pentachlorophenol

2,4-D

cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene

Simazine

2,4,5-TP(silvex)

A performance claim for cysts indicates the system reduces the concentration of parasitic cysts by at least 99.95%. The cysts

included in this claim are Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Toxoplasma and Entamoeba.

A claim for turbidity reduction means the system removes fine particulate matter that makes water appear cloudy to a level below

the U.S. EPA Maximum Contaminant Level.

A performance claim for lead reduction demonstrates the system's ability to reduce the concentration of lead below the U.S. EPA

Maximum Contaminant Level.

The California Department of Health Services certifies all residential water treatment devices sold in the state that make health

claims. Water filter systems that claim to reduce, filter or treat any chemical or compound that the state or federal government has

determined presents a health concern in drinking water must be certified to be sold in California. Examples of health benefit claims

include a device's ability to reduce or filter lead and other heavy metals, bacteria, cysts, nitrates, organic chemicals and pesticides.

Most testing for certification is done according to protocols that are part of the NSF International Standards. The testing establishes

that the water treatment device provides sufficient reduction of contaminants to warrant certification. Testing also determines that

the materials used to construct the system will not contribute harmful contaminants to the treated water. The manufacturer must

comply with product labeling and consumer information requirements before a device can be certified. A product data sheet is

provided for each product and includes:

Rated Service Life

General Use Conditions

Model or Part Numbers for Replacement Elements

Maximum and Minimum Operating Temperatures

Maximum and Minimum operating Pressure

Cost of Replacement Elements

Types of Contaminants Tested and Listed on Certificates

Alachlor Atrazine Benzene

o-Dichlorobenzene p-Dichlorobenzene 1,1,-Dichloroethane

1,2-Dichloroethane trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene 1,1-Dichloroethylene

cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene 1,2-Dichloropropane cis-1,3-Dichloropropylene

Dinoseb EDB (ethylene dibromide) Endrin

Ethylbenzene Heptachlor Heptachlor Epoxide

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene Hexachlorobutadiene Lindane

Methoxychlor Pentachlorophenol Simazine

Styrene 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) Tetrachloroethylene

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane Toluene 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

1,1,1-Trichloroethane 1,1,2-Trichloroethane Trichloroethylene

m-Xylene o-Xylene p-Xylene

1. Based on testing with chloroform surrogate per Section of NSF Standard 53 (revised March 1994).

2. Organic chemicals referred to as Trihalomethanes, Total Trihalomethanes, TTHMs and THMs.

Chlordane Trihalomethanes (THMs):

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene Bromodichloromethane

PCBs Bromoform

m-Dichlorobenzene Chloroform

Toxaphene Dibromodichloromethane

MTBE

3. Some manufacturers chose to test for a few specific organic contaminants and for THMs.

Bacteria

Turbidity

Cysts (protozoan)

Virus

Arsenic Lead

Asbestos Mercury

Barium Nickel

Cadmium Nitrate

Hexavelent Chromium Nitrite

Trivalent Chromium Radium 226/228

Copper Selenium

4. No longer a primary drinking water standard (MCL) but does appear on some certificates