Residential Water Treatment Devices

Last Update: June 5, 2014

Current Listing of Registered Devices

Here is the current listing of devices registered for sale in California: Registered Water Treatment Devices as of June 5, 2014 (PDF)
Here are the current listings of devices that reduce arsenic and nitrates that are registered for sale in California:
Arsenic: Registered Water Treatment Devices as of April 15, 2014 (PDF)
Nitrates: Registered Water Treatment Devices as of April 17, 2014 (PDF)

Performance Data Sheets for Registered Devices

Performance Data Sheets for Registered Devices

Statutory Changes in the Device Program

Assembly Bill 119 (PDF)was signed into law in 2013, making significant changes to CDPH's Water Treatment Device Program, The statute's major provisions became effective January 1, 2014. See "Information for Manufacturers" below.

Residential Water Treatment Devices

If you are thinking of buying a home water treatment device, you are probably concerned about your drinking water. Some common concerns are:

The appearance or taste of the water such as the odor of chlorine or an unpleasant mineral flavor.
Worries about a specific contaminant that might be in the water.
A family member may be vulnerable to illness due to a weakened immune system or other factor.
Excessive staining or deposits on your plumbing.

Whatever the reason, you want to be sure that the device you are using will meet your needs. You want to be sure that the device will reduce contaminants as stated on the packaging or advertisements.

The goal of the State of California Water Treatment Device Registration Program is to ensure that devices sold in California have been independently evaluated and tested to reduce ‘health-related' contaminants as claimed by the packaging. Health related contaminants include:

Nitrates
Arsenic
Bacteria, virus and cysts
Organic chemicals (such as by-products of chlorination)

What does California Registration mean?

CDPH registration means that devices sold in California that make health-related claims have been certified by an independent, accredited certification organization. This certification includes extensive water quality testing in accordance with national standards. Accreditation means that the organization and their testing laboratory have the proper ability, personnel and equipment to fully evaluate these devices.

Manufacturers that wish to have their devices registered for sale in California must provide proof of the independent certification and other information on each device. The California Registration program is designed to verify this certification and ensure that literature provided with each model adequately informs the customer. The Registration program monitors the marketplace for illegal sales of devices as well as misleading advertisement for ANY water treatment device.

These independent certification organizations include NSF and WQA. The websites of both of these organizations provide helpful information on choosing a home water treatment device.

Important Considerations

Nitrate: If you suspect that your well may have high levels of nitrates, you should not use the water for the preparation of infant formula until you have tested the water. Additional information on nitrates is available here: http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/nitrate.cfm
Nitratos - Si Usted sospecha que el agua de su pozo tal vez este contaminada con nitratos, no debería usar el agua para la preparación de formula infantil. Se encuentra información adicional aquí: http://water.epa.gov/drink/agua/losninos.cfm
Arsenic: If you suspect that your well may have arsenic, you should not use the water until it is tested, and you take appropriate measures to protect yourself and your family from potential chronic health effects if arsenic is present . Additional information on Arsenic is available here: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/arsenic/index.cfm
Arsénico: Si Usted Sospecha que el agua de su pozo tal vez este contaminada con arsénico, no bebe el agua. Usted necesita analizar el agua por la presencia de arsénico y tomar la precaución si se identifica arsénico. Se encuentra mas información sobre arsénico aqui: http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/communitywatercenter/pages/51/attachments/original/1394383782/CWC_Arsenic_Esp.pdf?1394383782

Private Well Supplies

If your water comes from a private well (serving just your home, typically), you (or the property owner) will need to make testing arrangements of the well water on your own. There may be some testing data available in county environmental health department files but usually not. Here are some resources regarding private wells that may be helpful.

English: http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/well/basicinformation.cfm
Spanish: http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/especialesCDC/TomarAgua/

Your local County Environmental Health Department may be able to help you to understand test results. They may also have information on protecting your well from contamination.

Information for Manufacturers

Letter from CDPH to Manufacturers and Interested Parties re: (1) Device Registration and (2) Program Update - March 7, 2014 (PDF)
Letter (dated December 19, 2013) from CDPH to Manufacturers re: Registration of Water Treatment Devices in California pursuant to AB 119, effective January 1, 2014 (PDF)
Application for Registration and for New Models (Word) - revised March 3, 2014
Regarding NSF Protocol P231 (microbiological purifiers), CDPH will accept applications for registration of models that are certified by an ANSI-Accredited certification organization under NSF Protocol P231. Such applications are required to include a copy of the product-specific test plan that was utilized in testing the model under P231.
Regarding "Fits" Claims: Under the current registration program, CDPH does not have a standard policy on such statements. This issue should be discussed with your certifying organization. As always, any claim to reduce a health-related contaminant requires certification and that the product be registered in California.

For More Information

For more information about residential water treatment devices, contact us at:

California Department of Public Health
Drinking Water Program
Residential Water Treatment Device Registration Unit
P.O. Box 997377, MS 7417
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377
(916) 449-5600 (phone)
(916) 449-5656 (fax)