Third Party Certification in the Water Filtration Industry

When you see an NSF, WQA Gold Seal, or other certification mark on a product, what does that really mean?

Third-party certifications serve two main purposes. First, they assure quality to the consumer, and second, they assure compliance to government regulations.

Assurance of Quality

From a consumer’s point of view, you want to be sure the product you are buying is going to do what it says. From a business point of view, you want your customers to be assured of the quality of your product. This will increase sales and eliminate complaints or returns.

Government Certification Requirements

In some locations, for example the State of California, the government requires certain products to be certified before they can be sold in the market. The government does the Quality Assurance for you.

There are a variety of organizations that can certify water filtration products. For example, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and UL can both certify products to meet standards in states like California, but probably the most recognized certification marks for water filtration devices are the NSF and WQA Gold Seal Listing and Certification Marks. Generally, all organizations certifying water filtration products follow the same NSF/ANSI standards for drinking water for their certification.

NSF International

NSF International is a not-for-profit corporation that was founded in 1944 to promote good sanitation. Experts in public health, manufacturing, and sanitation from government, industry, academia and public background develop and administer performance standards for products that have impact on sanitation and public health.

Manufacturers voluntarily submit products for evaluation. If they pass the tests, then they are “listed” and certain tested claims are “certified.” These products are now authorized to display the NSF/ANSI seal on their labels and literature. An NSF certification mark provides assurance that a product was impartially reviewed to established standards or guidelines and confirms that product labeling and claims have been objectively verified by a trusted third party.

WQA Gold Seal Certification

The Water Quality Association’s (WQA) Gold Seal has become probably one of the most recognized drinking water treatment certification programs in the world. It is becoming the international “Mark of Product Quality” for water filtration products.

In 1959, the WQA was the first organization to develop testing standards and certification policies for products that treat drinking water. This program, the Gold Seal Certification Program, awarded its’ first Gold Seal award in 1960 and is now the oldest third-party testing and certification program in the water treatment industry.

NSF and WQA Global Presence and Services

Both NSF and WQA have global offices which provide NSF and WQA services to help companies grow their businesses and reputations.

Puricom’s Certified Product Sourcing

Puricom pays very close attention to sourcing products that have reputable certification. This assures Puricom’s products are reliable, which in the long run pays off by greatly reducing follow-up service requirements.

Puricom’s Certification Application Assistance

Puricom has long-standing close relationships with NSF, WQA, and other third-party certification organizations. We know their standards and procedures, and assist our customers in preparing certification applications accordingly, greatly reducing the risk of certification process delays.

For more information about NSF and WQA visit their web sites at: www.nsf.org and wqa.org