independent reviews

NSF International: Who they are what they do

NSF International, established more than 55 years ago, is an independent, not-for-profit product testing and certification agency that sets standards for a wide variety of home and industrial products. It is accredited by ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, and it has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Collaborative Center for Drinking Water Safety and Treatment.

The NSF International standards for water treatment systems are based on input from experts in public health, industry, government agencies, and academia.

The eSpring™ Water Purifier is the first in-home, point-of-use water system certified by NSF International to meet all three of these major water quality standards: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53 and 55.*

Standard 42, Aesthetic Effects:

Tests systems for their ability to reduce drinking water contaminants that affect the taste, odour, and clarity of drinking water.

Standard 53, Health Effects:

Tests systems for their ability to reduce a wide range of drinking water contaminants, including lead, asbestos, VOCs, and pesticides. Standard 53 is much more difficult to meet than Standard 42. No other UV carbon-based system has been certified to reduce more health-effect contaminants than the eSpring Water Purifier.

Standard 55, Class B, Ultraviolet Microbiological Water Treatment:

Standard 55 applies exclusively to systems that use ultraviolet light. It certifies the system’s ability to reduce normally occurring microorganisms in municipally treated water.

*Please note: There are many parts and sections within the NSF International standards. For a complete listing and comparison with other systems, or to learn more, please visit the very informative NSF International web site, www.nsf.org. It covers a wide range of topics concerning public safety. To see the eSpring page on the nsf website, click here.

Other NSF requirements

A water treatment system that is NSF Certified must meet five basic requirements:

1. Certified contaminant reduction claims must be proven through testing performed by NSF International at its laboratories.
   The eSpring Water Purifier has done this.


2. The system must not add anything harmful to the water.
   The eSpring Water Purifier does not.


3. The system must be structurally sound and designed to meet plumbing requirements such as pressure fluctuations.
   The eSpring Water Purifier is.


4. Advertising, literature, and labeling must not contain any false or misleading statements.
   The eSpring collateral does not.


5. Only pre-authorized changes in the materials and manufacturing process are allowed.
   The eSpring materials and process have done this.

The Water Quality Association (WQA) The WQA is dedicated to promoting the highest standards of honesty, integrity, fair dealing and professionalism in the water treatment improvement industry, and committed to stringent product testing. WQA represents more than 2,400 member companies in more than 70 countries. To learn more about the WQA , visit their web site at www.wqa.org. The eSpring™ Water Purifier has WQA's Gold Seal The WQA developed the Gold Seal program to help consumers choose high quality water treatment products. It awards the Gold Seal only to those systems that have met or exceeded industry standards (see below). The eSpring Water Purifier has been awarded the WQA Gold Seal. Gold Seal requirements Product performance testing - measures contaminant reduction capabilities over the life of the water treatment product Structural integrity testing - measures durability under pressurization beyond the usual demands of home water systems and simulates 10 years normal use Materials safety assurance - confirms nothing harmful will be added to the water Literature reviews - ensure the Water Quality Association's high Code of Ethics standards in product advertising, labeling and installation instructions Customers can easily identify WQA-validated products by looking for the Gold Seal mark or through product listings in the Validated Water Treatment Equipment Directory available through the WQA. To learn more about the WQA, visit their web site at www.wqa.org.