When buying a water filter, certification is important to ensure it actually removes contaminants effectively. Third-party certifications from organizations like NSF, WQA, and IAPMO test water filters rigorously to verify performance claims.
Health and Safety Concerns
There are two types of water contaminants - primary and secondary. Primary contaminants like lead, arsenic, and harmful bacteria can damage your health. Secondary contaminants like minerals affect taste, odor, and appearance but are safe to consume as they do not pose significant health risks. To ensure the removal of primary contaminants from your water, it is crucial to choose a certified water filtration system. If you need help choosing and installing one, contact Water Treatment Companies In NY or your local providers.
Reputable certifications
To determine the reliability and effectiveness of a water filtration system, look for certifications from reputable organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Water Quality Association (WQA), and the International Association of Plumbing and Manufacturing Officials (IAPMO). Let's take a closer look at the certifications offered by these organizations:
These independent organizations rigorously test water filtration products to certify that they effectively remove the contaminants they claim to eliminate.
The most important certifications are:
# NSF/ANSI 53 - verifies a system removes over 50 health-related contaminants like heavy metals, VOCs and pathogens. Look for this if you want to filter harmful contaminants.
# NSF/ANSI 58 - certifies the effectiveness of reverse osmosis systems at removing contaminants and meeting standards for efficiency, materials safety and water recovery rate.
# NSF/ANSI 401 - tests for removal of 15 "emerging contaminants" like trace amounts of medication and pesticides that may cause health issues.
WQA also offers product certification, testing water filters to verify performance claims and auditing manufacturers' facilities. Their certifications include:
# WQA S-100 for water softeners
# WQA S-200 for residential water filters
# WQA S-300 for reverse osmosis systems
# WQA S-400 for distillation systems
NSF/ANSI 42 and WQA also offer certifications for filtering secondary contaminants that affect appearance, odor, and taste.
Look for at least one of these third-party certifications to prove a filter removes what it claims. Reputable manufacturers invest in third-party testing for a reason - to demonstrate that their products actually work.
In summary, certifications from NSF, WQA, and IAPMO verify critical performance aspects like contaminant reduction, material safety, filter life, and more. Third-party certification should give you peace of mind that the expensive water filter you buy will actually improve your water quality as promised. Always look for certification seals before purchasing to make sure you're getting an effective filter you can trust.
