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A Consumer Tool for Identifying Point of Use (POU) Drinking Water Filters Certified to Reduce Lead
Citation:
Latham, M., M. Shah, D. Lytle, AND M. Schock. A Consumer Tool for Identifying Point of Use (POU) Drinking Water Filters Certified to Reduce Lead. U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, EPA/600/F-18/335, 2018.
Impact/Purpose:
Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time, where it is stored in bones along with calcium. Lead can enter drinking water when service pipes that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. Homes may also have internal plumbing materials containing lead. To reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, consumers can consider the use of a water filter certified to remove lead. There is no mandatory federal requirement for the use of point of use (POU) drinking water filters or for testing or third-party certification under the Safe Drinking Water Act. However, consumers can increase their level of confidence by purchasing filters that have been tested by an accredited third-party certification body or bodies for lead reduction.
Description:
Point of use, or POU, drinking water filters are used to remove impurities from water at the point that it is actually being used. Although there are others, the POU filters covered in this document are those used in filtration systems that are attached directly to water faucets, inserted into refrigerators for water dispensers and ice makers, or inserted into water pitchers and bottles. There is no mandatory federal requirement for the use of POU drinking water filters or for testing or third-party certification under the Safe Drinking Water Act. However, consumers can increase their level of confidence by purchasing filters that they have been tested by an accredited third-party certification body or bodies for lead reduction and particulate reduction (Class I) capabilities against both NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53. There are several American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited third-party certification bodies that evaluate POU drinking water filters for lead reduction. Each has a registered trademark that is used on certified products. This tool provides the certification bodies’ approved marks and the text that indicates a filter has been certified for lead reduction capabilities.