To ensure drinking water technologies are available for consumers to reduce exposure to arsenic, the non-profit organization NSF Intl. has announced the release of four final verification reports through the EPA/NSF Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Drinking Water Systems (DWS) Center. The reports were produced to specify testing results of drinking water treatment technologies that help consumers avoid exposure to arsenic, which can increase cancer risk and cause other serious health problems.

“These reports are an important step in protecting the public from arsenic exposure,” said Bruce Bartley, NSF technical manager for the ETV DWS Center. “By providing consumers with proven results of product evaluations, these evaluation reports accelerate the implementation of new drinking water technologies into the marketplace.”

The ETV DWS Center reports demonstrate a significant reduction of arsenic in drinking water. These tests were performed in small communities in three states in conjunction with Delta Industrial Services and the University of Alaska in Anchorage; Watts Premier and MWH in Thermal, Calif.; Kinetico Inc. and Alcan Chemicals with Gannett Fleming in Carroll Township, Pa.; and ADI Intl. with Gannett Fleming in Sellersville, Pa.

In 2001, the EPA issued a new arsenic maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L). Since that time, public health officials throughout the United States have detected varying amounts of arsenic in many drinking water supplies, some well above the EPA's new MCL. As of Jan. 23, 2006, all public water systems will be required to comply with the 10 µg/L MCL.

Visit www.nsf.org/business/drinking_water_systems_center/pdf/Delta_Report.pdf to access the reports.