Clean Water for All

The purpose of Clean Water for All Program proposal, developed by a WQA task force, is to empower Americans to significantly reduce or remove unwanted contaminants found in their drinking water, such as but not limited to lead, arsenic, nitrates, volatile organic compounds, PFOS, PFOA, chrome-6, and cysts.

Under the Clean Water for All Program, consumers could claim a rebate of up to $1,000 toward the purchase, installation, including filter replacements for one year after initial installation, and registration in a service agreement for product maintenance and filter media replacement program of a qualifying point-of-entry or point-of-use water treatment system to significantly reduce or remove harmful health contaminants.

Point-of-entry (POE) systems treat water before it enters the property or home, while point-of-use (POU) systems are installed to treat water where needed, like kitchen and bathroom taps.
POEs or POUs – installed at the individual home or business can be used to achieve potable water, providing a final barrier against unwanted contaminants in their drinking water. In areas where there are significant deficiencies in financial resources and technical support, POEs/POUs may be the best treatment option.
POEs/POUs can address drinking water concerns, are on the market, and quick to install. Like all household appliances, POEs/POUs require occasional maintenance.
POEs/POUs safety and performance can be verified through testing and certification to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards by ANSI accredited third-party certification bodies.
POEs/POUs ANSI standards to certify products includes testing to significantly reduce or remove health contaminants found in drinking water, such as lead, arsenic, nitrate/nitrite, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and unregulated contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and hexavalent chromium (chrome-6).

Clean Water for All One-Pager and Frequently Asked Questions
Clean Water for All Handout
Clean Water for All: Point-of-Use & Point-of-Entry

POEs/POUs Technologies.
Water Treatment for Dummies
POU Overview
POE Overview
Factsheet on Granular Activated Carbon
Factsheet on Ion Exchange
Factsheet on Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Factsheet on Ultraviolet UV light

Performance & Reliability.
Product Certification
Webinar on Product Certification Process
Find Certified Products by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Certification Bodies:

Affordability.
Cost Benefits of Point-of-Use Devices in Reduction of Health Risks

Potential Health Effects from Common Drinking Water Contaminants.

Lead

Potential Health Effects	Children are more at risk than adults Reduced intelligence, impaired hearing and decreased growth in children Damage to the brain, kidneys, and bone marrow Damage to the nervous system and red blood cells
Testing/Certification Standards	NSF/ANSI 53 (filters) or NSF/ANSI 58 (RO systems)
Additional References	EPA on Lead CDC on Lead WHO on Lead Study on Lead & Private Wells WQA Lead Factsheet

Arsenic

Potential Health Effects	Serious skin problems, endocrine disruptor Cancer – skin, bladder, lung, kidney, liver, prostate Harms cardiovascular & nervous systems
Testing/Certification Standards	NSF/ANSI 53 (filters) or NSF/ANSI 58 (RO systems)
Additional References	CDC on Arsenic NIH on Arsenic WHO on Arsenic Michigan DEQ on Arsenic WQA Arsenic Factsheet

Nitrate/Nitrite

Potential Health Effects	Methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) Most potential health effects are seen in infants under the age of 6 months
Testing/Certification Standards	NSF/ANSI 58 (RO systems)
Additional References	CDC on Nitrate NIH on Nitrate ATSDR on Nitrate and Nitrite WHO on Nitrate and Nitrite Minnesota DOH on Nitrate Cornell University on Nitrate WQA Nitrate and Nitrite Factsheet

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Potential Health Effects	Some VOCs are carcinogens and/or may adversely affect the liver, kidneys, spleen, and stomach, as well as the nervous, circulatory, reproductive, immune, cardiovascular, and respiratory system Some VOCs may affect cognitive abilities, balance, and coordination, and some are eye, skin, and/or throat irritants
Testing/Certification Standards	NSF/ANSI 53 (filters) or NSF/ANSI 58 (RO systems)
Additional References	ATSDR on VOCs EPA on VOCs NIH on VOCs

Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)

Potential Health Effects	Low infant birth weight Decreased fertility Elevated cholesterol Abnormal thyroid hormone levels Liver inflammation Weakening of the immune system Cancer – testicular, kidney *risks associated with many PFASs are largely unknown
Testing/Certification Standards	NSF/ANSI 53 (filters) or NSF/ANSI 58 (RO systems)
Additional References	EPA on PFOA/PFOS CDC on PFOA CDC on PFAS California Water Board on PFOA/PFOS Minnesota DOH on PFAS WQA Page on PFAS

Hexavalent Chromium (Chrome-6)

Potential Health Effects	Nausea, gastrointestinal distress, stomach ulcers, skin ulcers, allergic reactions Kidney and liver damage Reproductive problems Lung and nasal cancer
Testing/Certification Standards	NSF/ANSI 53 (filters) or NSF/ANSI 58 (RO systems)
Additional References	NIH on Chrome-6 EPA on Chromium WHO on Chromium ATSDR on Chromium WQA Chromium Factsheet

Microorganisms (including Bacteria, Viruses, & Cysts)

Potential Health Effects
Bacteria (Ex. coliform bacteria; E.coli)	Diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, nausea, headaches, fever, fatigue, and even death sometimes Infants, children, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems are more risk
Viruses (Ex. enterovirus, hepatitis A, norovirus rotavirus)	Gastrointestinal illness (for example, diarrhea, vomiting, cramps), hepatitis, meningitis
Cysts (Ex. giardia; cryptosporidium)	The most common types of parasites found in waterborne cysts are giardia and cryptosporidium Intestinal issues including diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting
Testing/Certification Standards	NSF/ANSI 53 (filters) or NSF/ANSI 58 (RO systems); NSF Protocol P231
Additional References	NIH on Bacterial Pathogens Drinking Water Extension on Bacteria Minnesota Dept. of Health on Bacteria, Viruses, and Parasites CDC on Water-Related Diseases and Contaminants CDC Guide to Water Filters for Cryptosporidium WQA Page on Cysts, Bacteria, and Viruses