What is NSF/ANSI 61 certified, and why should I care? A good question, and an important one for producers of drinking water. This particular standard establishes minimum health effects requirements for the chemical contaminants and impurities that are indirectly imparted to drinking water from products, components, and materials used for drinking water systems.1 Putting it more simply, the standard certifies that the chemicals and materials used in producing drinking water are safe and will not produce negative health effects. It ensures that components of the process will not add contaminants that will cause health or regulatory problems.
This certification is given by Water Quality Association (WQA), a trade group that acts as a resource and information source for the industry whose goal it is to advocate for the betterment of water quality. WQA keeps a meticulous list of the products and materials that pass strict standards. Their certifications guide consumers with water treatment products that have been tested and certified to industry standards.
Products that have been certified have gone through a multiple step process which includes providing information and undergoing performance testing. A thorough literature search has also been conducted.
Why Should you Care About NSF/ANSI 61 Certification
And why should we care? The WQA certification provides end users, retailers, and regulators the knowledge that a third party has tested the product according to rigorous industry standards. Many states or localities have specific requirements that require the use of certified materials for water producers. If you are a water producer, using NSF 61 certified chemicals and materials will put you at the forefront of the industry, and establish your leadership. Currently, 48 states require NSF/ANSI 61 certification for municipal water product components.
State agencies can order water producers to remove the non-NSF 61 certified products, and fines can be issued, an expensive proposition either way. The state will typically enforce this at the bidding stage of a project.
So, how can water producers avoid confronting this potentially costly issue? Use of NSF/ANSI 61 certified products is a wise choice for those specifying and purchasing equipment for water treatment facilities. The WQA provides a complete list of certified products and can serve as a major resource for equipment choice. Equipment suppliers should also be able to advise you on the NSF 61 status of their products. All JMS Mega-TREATMENT (Water Treatment Systems) are NSF/ANSI 61 certified Drinking Water Components. This includes:
- Mega-FLOCS (Paddle Wheel Flocculators)
- Mega-SETTLER (Plate Settler System)
- Mega-VAC (Sludge Removal System)
- Mega-BEARING (High Performance Bearing System)
- Mega-TROUGH (Trough System)
- Mega-WALL (Baffle System)
To see the list of JMS NSF/ANSI 61 approved products, click here
Kerry Dissinger has been employed by JMS for the last 10 years, and currently holds the position of Vice President. Prior to receiving a BS degree in Electro Mechanical Engineering, Kerry served for 3 years as a US Army Paratrooper stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. He also served 6 years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Kerry’s nearly 20 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry includes 10 years at Brentwood Industries where he was mentored by the esteemed Dr. McDowell. With his strong background in the water and wastewater process, particularly sedimentation, he is focused on continued growth and innovation, holding several active patents for JMS products. One of Kerry’s favorite sayings is: It’s not about ideas; it’s about making ideas happen.