NSF Intl. has announced that Zero Technologies, LLC has obtained NSF certification for its pour-through water filtration pitchers. Zero Technologies is the first company to achieve certification of a filtration pitcher for lead reduction under the new requirements of NSF/ANSI Standard 53: Drinking Water Treatment Units -- Health Effects.
As of July 2007, all drinking water filters certified by NSF, including pour-through pitchers, faucet mounts and built-in faucet filters, must meet new test requirements for making claims of lead reduction under NSF/ANSI Standard 53. Previously, the lead reduction test protocol did not require a challenge with a specific percentage of particulate lead in addition to soluble lead. The new test protocol requires that particulate lead must be generated in the challenge water at a specific percentage. Recent studies have indicated that lead contamination of drinking water can occur in either or both particulate and soluble forms. Since both forms of lead have adverse health effects if consumed, it is very important that water treatment products certified for lead reduction are able to treat particulate lead in addition to soluble lead.
“Zero Technologies is honored to be the first company to pass the new lead removal standard set by the NSF Joint Committee on Drinking Water Treatment Units. This will allow us to showcase our product strength and highlight differentiation among the competition,” said Raja Rajan, chief operating officer of Zero Technologies, LLC. “NSF certification to the new lead requirements allows consumers to compare water filtration capabilities among the many choices available in the market.”
Certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 includes ongoing inspections of the manufacturing facility and periodic testing to make sure the product does not leach harmful levels of metals or other contaminants into drinking water and continues to perform as originally certified.
“NSF enjoys working with many proactive manufacturers, such as Zero Technologies, to help them demonstrate their commitment to public health protection. This certification is important because it expands options available to consumers when selecting products to help make their family's drinking water safer,” said Rick Andrew, operations manager of NSF's Drinking Water Treatment Units Certification Program.
The requirements were adopted into NSF/ANSI Standard 53 in February 2007 with approval from the NSF Joint Committee on Drinking Water Treatment Units, an independent consensus standards body composed of a balanced representation of stakeholders including regulators, industry representatives and product users. Manufacturers were also notified of the new requirements at that time.
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