Understanding NSF/ANSI/CAN 60

Ensuring the safety and purity of drinking water is a critical priority for public health authorities, water utilities, and consumers alike. At the forefront of this effort is NSF, a globally recognised leader in the development and implementation of health-based standards for water treatment chemicals. Our flagship standard, NSF/ANSI/CAN 60, has become the benchmark for verifying the safety and quality of chemicals used in the treatment of drinking water supplies.

In this comprehensive article, we delve into the intricacies of NSF Standard 60, exploring its development, regulatory specifications, and the myriad benefits it offers to end-users and manufacturers. We'll unpack the standard's comprehensive scope, the rigorous certification process, and the pivotal role it plays in safeguarding public health worldwide.

NSF/ANSI/CAN 60 "Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals - Health Effects," is an extensive standard that establishes minimum health effect requirements for chemicals used in drinking water treatment. Developed through a collaborative committee process involving product manufacturers, regulatory agencies, and end users, the standard is designed to ensure that the chemicals added to drinking water do not pose unacceptable health risks to consumers.

The scope of NSF Standard 60 is broad, encompassing a wide range of water treatment chemicals, including:

• Coagulation and flocculation chemicals
• Corrosion and scale control chemicals
• Disinfection and oxidation chemicals
• Fluoridation chemicals
• Algaecides
• Pipe cleaning aids
• Water well drilling aids and sealants
• Membrane service chemicals

Beyond North America, the global demand for NSF Standard 60 certification is steadily growing. Countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and others have incorporated the standard into their regulatory frameworks or include it as a requirement in bid specifications for drinking water treatment projects.

This widespread adoption of NSF Standard 60 underscores the standard's importance in ensuring the safety and quality of drinking water worldwide. By establishing a consistent, health-based framework for evaluating the potential impacts of water treatment chemicals, the standard helps to mitigate risks and promote public confidence in the safety of the water supply.

The certification of drinking water treatment chemicals to NSF Standard 60 offers a multitude of benefits to both end-users and manufacturers, including:

Benefits for end-users:

• Compliant products and ongoing verification: NSF Standard 60 certification provides end-users with the assurance that the chemicals they are using have been thoroughly evaluated and found to meet stringent health-based criteria. Furthermore, the annual auditing of certified facilities and products by NSF ensures ongoing compliance and consistency in the manufacturing process.
• Streamlined product selection: The NSF website serves as a centralised, searchable database of all NSF Standard 60-certified products, allowing end-users to quickly and easily identify chemicals that meet the necessary requirements for use in drinking water treatment.
• Reduced testing and review time: For chemical distributors and formulators, using NSF Standard 60-certified ingredients can significantly reduce the time and effort required to review and approve products, as the health effects of the individual components have already been evaluated and validated.

• Access to a larger customer base: The NSF Standard 60 certification mark is widely recognised and respected in the drinking water treatment industry, providing certified manufacturers with a distinct advantage in the marketplace and access to a global customer base.
• Demonstration of product compliance: Certification to NSF Standard 60 serves as tangible proof that a manufacturer's products have been thoroughly evaluated and found to meet rigorous health-based criteria, instilling confidence in end-users and regulatory authorities.
• Monitoring of health effects and manufacturing processes: The certification process includes comprehensive laboratory testing and annual facility audits, ensuring that the health effects of certified products and the integrity of the manufacturing processes are continuously monitored and maintained.

The NSF Standard 60 certification process is a multi-step procedure designed to thoroughly evaluate the safety and quality of drinking water treatment chemicals. The key steps in this process include:

• Application submittal: Manufacturers submit a short application form providing corporate and facility information, as well as contact details.
• Product documentation: Manufacturers provide detailed information about the product, including the chemical name, trade name, end-use function, and maximum use level, as well as a comprehensive formulation document listing all ingredients and their respective percentages.
• Formulation review: NSF's technical staff review the product formulation to determine the appropriate testing and evaluation requirements.
• Facility audit: NSF field staff conduct an on-site audit of the manufacturing facility, verifying the accuracy of the registered formulation and reviewing the production processes, packaging, and labelling.
• Laboratory testing: Samples of the product are subjected to a range of laboratory tests, including analyses for regulated metals, radionuclides, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, and other contaminants, as determined by the product's formulation.
• Technical evaluation and normalisation: The laboratory test results are evaluated and normalisation based on the product's maximum use level to ensure that the concentration of any contaminants in the treated water does not exceed the specified pass/fail limits.
• Listing and certification: Upon successful completion of the certification process, the product is listed on the NSF website, and the manufacturer is granted the right to use the NSF Standard 60 certification mark.
• Ongoing monitoring and maintenance: To maintain certification, each certified facility undergoes an annual audit, and product samples are tested on a regular basis to ensure continued compliance with the standard.

At the core of NSF Standard 60 are the strict health-based criteria used to evaluate the safety of drinking water treatment chemicals. The standard establishes a "single product allowable concentration" (SPAC) for each contaminant, which represents the maximum amount of that contaminant that can be added to the water supply from the use of the chemical at its maximum dosage level.

The SPAC is typically set at a fraction (often 10% or less) of the regulatory limits established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Health Canada, ensuring an additional margin of safety for consumers. For contaminants not addressed by drinking water regulations, the standard relies on peer-reviewed toxicological assessments to determine appropriate evaluation criteria.

By addressing this comprehensive scope of water treatment chemicals, NSF Standard 60 provides a robust and holistic framework for ensuring the safety and quality of the entire drinking water supply.

The widespread adoption of NSF Standard 60 around the world underscores its significance in safeguarding the quality and safety of drinking water supplies. As more countries and regions incorporate the standard into their regulatory frameworks or include it as a requirement in procurement processes, the global impact of NSF Standard 60 continues to grow.

By establishing a consistent, health-based approach to evaluating the potential risks associated with water treatment chemicals, the standard helps to promote public confidence in the safety of drinking water and mitigate the potential for adverse health effects. This, in turn, contributes to improved public health outcomes and supports the overall sustainability of water infrastructure and distribution systems.