WQA Helps Clarify ANSI Testing Reciprocity

In a letter dated Dec. 8, addressed to water treatment device manufacturers and testing labs, David P. Spath, Ph.D., P.E., Chief Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management for the State of California, outlined procedures for Department of Health Services (Department) acceptance of product listings in lieu of test data from ANSI-accredited testing organizations for residential water treatment device certifications, reported the Water Quality Association (WQA).

This "reciprocity" was sought by manufacturers who wanted to avoid the time and cost for duplication of product data reviews.

The following is an excerpt from the letter (provided by WQA).

"The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for Department of Health Services (Department) acceptance of product listings in lieu of test data from ANSI-certified testing organizations for residential water treatment device certifications.

This policy was originally issued April 14, 2003. After several months of implementing this policy, we believe that clarification is needed as to what it covers and what it does not cover. Therefore, we are issuing this revised policy.

The California Health and Safety Code Section 116835(b) allows the Department to accept a water treatment device certification issued by an independent testing organization if the Department determines that certification program meets the requirements of Article 3, "Water Treatment Devices". Department staff resources for reviewing certification application materials are very limited. In addition, there are now three independent testing organizations certified by ANSI for product testing and listing of residential water treatment devices.

Policy

Under the authority of H&SC Section 116835(b), the Department will accept, for residential water treatment device certifications, certain product listings by an ANSI-certified product listing organization in lieu of test data. Acceptable product listings are limited to ANSI/NSF Standards 44, 53, and 62, as specified in Section 60435 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 22. A product listing submitted in lieu of test data must be for the exact model designation as identified on the manufacturer’s application for certification. All other material required with an application for certification (e.g., product label, product data sheet, packaging and promotional materials, drawings and parts list, etc.) must still be submitted.

Product listings from an ANSI-certified product listing organization may be submitted as evidence of the materials review and extraction testing in lieu of actual test reports.

The Department reserves the right to call in test reports during any application review process to verify a product listing."

Specific situations are listed in the letter as well such as witness testing, data transfer, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet and water softeners. These situations are listed in the full letter at www.wqa.org.

Source: Water Quality Association