NSF International (www.nsf.org), The Public Health and Safety Company, was awarded two cooperative agreements from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for work on homeland security water safety. NSF involved in standards development, product certification, education and risk management solutions for public health and safety. The NSF Drinking Water Systems Center (DWSC) and the NSF Water Quality Protection Center (WQPC) will administer the agreements through the NSF/EPA Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program.
The NSF homeland security project includes identification of priority areas of investigation, selection of potential technologies, test protocol development and technology evaluation. The first verification reports are scheduled for completion in late 2003.
DWSC verifies the efficacy of home water treatment systems in providing protection against water contaminants. DWSC has verified the performance of 29 drinking water technologies including technologies for cryptosporidium and arsenic reduction.
WQPC focuses on equipment designed to treat water used in the cleanup of contaminated buildings and equipment. WQPC verifies technologies for disinfectant mixers, storm water treatment, mercury amalgam separation, wastewater nutrient reduction and animal waste separation.
"NSF International and its stakeholders are playing a critical role in developing ETV testing protocols and verifying technologies that help to secure the nation's drinking water," said Teresa Harten, Director Environmental Technology Verification Program, USEPA.
"We look forward to working with the USEPA on these homeland security efforts," said Gordon Bellen, Vice President, Research. "NSF is proud to continue its leading role in ensuring the safety of the U.S. drinking water supply."
Source: NSF International