| Does it really matter if your water filter is | | | | becomes: are you looking for the cheapest water |
| NSF-certified? | | | | filter or is quality your No.1 priority? I am sure you |
| Who cares whether or not a water filtration system | | | | can walk into any hardware stores and you can buy |
| has the approval of a third-party organization? After | | | | a no-name water filter brand at a very affordable |
| all the QA/QC labs at the manufacturers' facilities give | | | | price. The manufacturer guarantees it will do wonders |
| passing grades to those filter devices before they | | | | to your water. After all, a generic pharmaceutical |
| are shipped to consumers. | | | | drug is less costly and it's as good as the main brand. |
| Independent Organizations not EPA gives certification | | | | The difference? The appropriate government agency |
| Several independent organizations like NSF | | | | approves those medicines and allow them to be sold. |
| International, Water Quality Associations (WQA), | | | | Unlike those drugs, water filters do not receive |
| American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and | | | | government approval. Instead, a group of |
| Underwriters Laboratories (UL) inspect and certify | | | | hardworking independent bodies rigorously test the |
| water filters. WQA and UL generally follow the NSF | | | | filters to make sure that manufacturers' claims are |
| ANSI certification standards. | | | | true. I am sure these manufacturers don't go their |
| Just in case you don't know before now, EPA makes | | | | ways to make bad products but there may be some |
| it clear that it does not approve or certify any water | | | | health and safety issues they may have overlooked. |
| filter. EPA's registration is not to be taken as an | | | | This is where the NSF/ANSI Standards come in. |
| approval or a certification of a specific water filter or | | | | Listen to the experts The Standards are great way |
| purifier. If you see "EPA Approved" label on a filter, | | | | to measure the quality of water filters on the |
| return it to the shelf and move on. | | | | market. So, when you are in the market to buy a |
| What's the fuss about water certification? Should | | | | water filter, it is best to listen to the real experts. It's |
| you be concerned if your water filter or purifier is not | | | | a matter of life and death. Water filters are certified |
| certified by any of the above-mentioned | | | | according to the type of contaminants they can |
| organizations? Can't we just take the manufacturers | | | | reduce. Most home water treatment devices are |
| at their words; after all, they are experts? They | | | | certified NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 58 Arsenic |
| have highly paid engineers and scientists that | | | | V, Cysts, Lead, PCBs, MTBE, Mercury, Asbestos, |
| hopefully make sure they produce a better product | | | | Chloramine, VOCs and many more other |
| than their competitors.Don't you think we should | | | | contaminants of health concern. |
| trust them if they guarantee the effectiveness of | | | | If you have tested your water and you know what's |
| their device? | | | | in it, you can be well informed as to the type of |
| Quality or the least costly filter? The question now | | | | water filter you will need for your home. |