THE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION
PROGRAM
oEPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ET
V^lVl
V
NSF International
ETV Joint Verification Statement
TECHNOLOGY TYPE:
APPLICATION:
PRODUCT NAME:
COMPANY:
ADDRESS:
PHONE:
POINT-OF-USE DRINKING WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM
REMOVAL OF CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS IN DRINKING
WATER
WATTS PREMIER WP-4V
WATTS PREMIER, INC.
1725 WEST WILLIAMS DR.
SUITE C-20
PHOENIX, AZ 85027
800-752-5582
NSF International (NSF) manages the Drinking Water Systems (DWS) Center under the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program. The
DWS Center recently evaluated the performance of the Watts Premier WP-4V point-of-use (POU)
drinking water treatment system. NSF performed all of the testing activities, and also authored the
verification report and this verification statement. The verification report contains a comprehensive
description of the test.
EPA created the ETV Program to facilitate the deployment of innovative or improved environmental
technologies through performance verification and dissemination of information. The goal of the ETV
Program is to further environmental protection by accelerating the acceptance and use of improved and
more cost-effective technologies. ETV seeks to achieve this goal by providing high-quality, peer-
reviewed data on technology performance to those involved in the design, distribution, permitting,
purchase, and use of environmental technologies.
ETV works in partnership with recognized standards and testing organizations, stakeholder groups
(consisting of buyers, vendor organizations, and permitters), and with the full participation of individual
technology developers. The program evaluates the performance of innovative technologies by developing
test plans that are responsive to the needs of stakeholders, conducting field or laboratory tests (as
appropriate), collecting and analyzing data, and preparing peer reviewed reports. All evaluations are
conducted in accordance with rigorous quality assurance protocols to ensure that data of known and
adequate quality are generated and that the results are defensible.
NSF 05/12c/EPADWCTR
The accompanying notice is an integral part of this verification statement.
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November 2005
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ABSTRACT
The Watts Premier WP-4V POU drinking water treatment system was tested for removal of aldicarb,
benzene, cadmium, carbofuran, cesium, chloroform, dichlorvos, dicrotophos, fenamiphos, mercury,
mevinphos, oxamyl, strontium, and strychnine. The WP-4V employs a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane,
a sediment filter, and activated carbon filters to treat drinking water. The system was first tested with
only the RO membrane component in place. The target challenge concentration for each chemical for the
RO membrane tests was 1 mg/L. Following the RO membrane challenges, the post-membrane carbon
filter component was challenged alone with each chemical the RO membrane did not remove to below 30
Hg/L. Based on this criterion, the carbon filter was challenged with benzene, chloroform and mercury.
The target challenge concentration for the carbon filter tests was the maximum effluent level measured
during the RO membrane tests.
A total of 20 RO membrane components were tested, divided into ten pairs. Only one pair of membranes
was tested for removal of each chemical. Each RO membrane chemical challenge was conducted over a
one-day period. Influent and effluent samples were collected during the operation period, and also the
next morning. The post-membrane carbon filter challenges were conducted over a 15-hour duration.
Two filters were tested for each chemical challenge, and each pair was only used for one challenge.
Influent and effluent samples were collected at the beginning, middle, and end of the challenge period.
The WP-4V as a whole, considering both the RO membrane challenge and post-membrane carbon filter
challenge results combined, reduced all of the challenge chemicals 98% or more.
TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
The following technology description was provided by the manufacturer and has not been verified.
The WP-4V is a four-stage POU drinking water treatment system, using sediment filtration, activated
carbon filtration, and reverse osmosis. Treated water is stored in a three-gallon storage tank. The WP-4V
is certified by NSF to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 - Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Systems. It
has a certified production rate of 9.06 gallons per day.
Incoming water first passes through a sediment filter to remove particulate matter, such as rust and silt,
and then through a carbon filter to remove chlorine or other contaminants. The third stage of treatment is
the reverse osmosis membrane, which removes a wide variety of inorganic and larger molecular weight
organic contaminants, and also protozoan cysts such as cryptosporidium and Giardia. The permeate water
is sent to a 3-gallon maximum capacity storage tank. Upon leaving the storage tank, the water passes
through a second carbon filter to remove organic chemicals and other taste and odor causing substances
before dispensing through the faucet. The pre-membrane carbon and sediment filters were not tested,
because they are only designed to remove chlorine and particulate matter to protect the RO membrane.
VERIFICATION TESTING DESCRIPTION
Test Site
The testing site was the Drinking Water Treatment Systems Laboratory at NSF in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
A description of the test apparatus can be found in the test/QA plan and verification report. The testing
was conducted November 2004 through March 2005.
NSF 05/12c/EPADWCTR The accompanying notice is an integral part of this verification statement. November 2005
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Methods and Procedures
Verification testing followed the procedures and methods detailed in the Test/QA Plan for Verification
Testing of the Watts Premier WP-4V Point-of-Use Drinking Water Treatment System for Removal of
Chemical Contamination Agents. Because any contamination event would likely be short-lived, the
challenge period for each chemical lasted only one day. Long-term performance over the life of the
membrane was not evaluated.
The system was first tested with only the RO membrane component in place. A total of 20 RO
membranes were challenged with the chemicals in Table 1. The target challenge concentration for each
chemical was 1 mg/L. The 20 membrane test units were divided into ten pairs. One pair of systems was
tested for removal of each chemical. The reduction of TDS was also measured during the challenges to
evaluate whether any organic chemicals damaged the membrane material or membrane seals.
Table 1. Challenge Chemicals
Organic Chemicals Inorganic Chemicals
Aldicarb Cadmium Chloride
Benzene Cesium Chloride (nonradioactive isotope)
Carbofuran Mercuric Chloride
Chloroform Strontium Chloride (nonradioactive isotope)
Dicrotophos
Dichlorvos
Fenamiphos
Mevinphos
Oxamyl
Strychnine
Each RO membrane chemical challenge was conducted over a one-day period. The systems were
operated for six tank-fill periods, and then were allowed to rest overnight. Influent and effluent samples
were collected at start-up, after the 3rd tank fill, after 15 hours of operation, and the next morning after
the membranes rested under pressure overnight. During the chloroform, dichlorvos, and fenamiphos
challenges, the systems were still in operation for the 3rd tank fill at 15 hours, so the 3rd tank-fill samples
were not collected.
Following the RO membrane challenges, the post-membrane carbon filters were challenged with the
chemicals that the RO membranes did not remove to below 30 |o,g/L. The filters were attached to a
separate manifold that was of the same design as the manifold in the full RO system. Two carbon filters
were tested for each chemical challenge, and each filter was only used for one challenge. The target
challenge concentrations were the maximum effluent levels measured during the RO membrane tests.
Prior to testing, each carbon filter was service-conditioned by feeding water containing chloroform to
simulate the possible contaminant loading on the carbon halfway through the filter's effective lifespan.
The post-membrane carbon filter challenges were 15 hours in duration. Influent and effluent samples
were collected at the beginning, middle, and end of the challenge period. The carbon filters were
operated at 0.3 gallons per minute on an operating cycle where the "on" portion was 19 minutes (the time
required to empty the system storage tank when full), and the "off portion was 3 hours and 45 minutes
(the time required to fill the storage tank).
NSF 05/12c/EPADWCTR The accompanying notice is an integral part of this verification statement. November 2005
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VERIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE
The results of the RO membrane challenges are presented in Table 2. The RO membrane treatment
process removed 98% or more of all challenge chemicals but mercury, benzene, and chloroform. The
membranes removed 44% of mercury, 85% of benzene, and 84% of the chloroform challenge.
The TDS reduction by each membrane component for all challenge tests was 95% or higher. The TDS
reduction data does not indicate that any of the membranes or membrane seals were adversely affected by
exposure to the challenge chemicals.
The post-membrane carbon filter components were challenged with benzene, chloroform, and mercury.
Table 2. RO Membrane Challenge Data
Mean Influent Mean Effluent Percent
Chemical Qg/L) (|ag/L) Reduction (%)
Cadmium
Cesium
Mercury
Strontium
Aldicarb
Benzene
Carbofuran
Chloroform
Dichlorvos
Dicrotophos
Fenamiphos
Mevinphos
Oxamyl
Strychnine
910
660
1200
920
1100
1100
1100
1100
560
840
1200
1200
1100
1000
0.4
11
670
1
10
160
5
180
10
10
11
16
4
6
>99
99
44
>99
>99
85
>99
84
98
99
>99
99
>99
>99
The carbon challenge results are shown below in Table 3. The carbon filter removed 98% or more of all
three substances. The RO membrane and carbon challenge data combined shows that the two treatment
technologies working in concert within the WP-4V system removed 98% or more of all challenge
chemicals.
Complete descriptions of the verification testing results are included in the verification report.
Table 3. Post-Membrane Carbon Filter Challenge Data
Target Measured
Influent0} Mean Influent Mean Effluent Percent
Chemical (|ag/L) (|ag/L) (|ag/L) Reduction (%)
Benzene 290 300 O5 ^99
Chloroform 300 300 ND (0.5) > 99
Mercury 740 760 12 98
(1) Target influent level set at maximum single effluent level from RO challenge.
NSF 05/12c/EPADWCTR The accompanying notice is an integral part of this verification statement. November 2005
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QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL (QA/QC)
NSF ETV and QA staff monitored the testing activities to ensure that the testing was in compliance with
the test plan. NSF also conducted a data quality audit of 100% of the data. Please see the verification
report referenced below for more QA/QC information.
Original signed by Andrew Avel 01/18/06 Original signed by Robert Ferguson 01/24/06
Andrew P. Avel Date Robert Ferguson Date
Acting Director Vice President
National Homeland Security Research Center Water Systems
United States Environmental Protection NSF International
Agency
NOTICE: Verifications are based on an evaluation of technology performance under specific,
predetermined criteria and the appropriate quality assurance procedures. EPA and NSF make no expressed
or implied warranties as to the performance of the technology and do not certify that a technology will
always operate as verified. The end-user is solely responsible for complying with any and all applicable
federal, state, and local requirements. Mention of corporate names, trade names, or commercial products
does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use of specific products. This report is not an NSF
Certification of the specific product mentioned herein.
Availability of Supporting Documents
Copies of the test protocol, the verification statement, and the verification report (NSF report # NSF
04/12c/EPADWCTR) are available from the following sources:
(NOTE: Not all of the appendices are included in the verification report. The appendices are available
from NSF upon request.)
1. ETV Drinking Water Systems Center Manager (order hard copy)
NSF International
P.O. Box 130140
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-0140
2. NSF web site: http://www.nsforg/etv/dws/dws_reports.html, and from
http://www.nsforg/etv/dws/dws_project_documents.html (electronic copy)
EPA web site: http://www.epa.gov/etv (electronic copy)
NSF 05/12c/EPADWCTR The accompanying notice is an integral part of this verification statement. November 2005
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