Funding for safe drinking water left unused

LISLE, Ill., April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The recent revelation that nearly half a billion dollars in federal funding for safe water has gone unspent by the State of California offers one more strong incentive for residents to install Final Barrier protection in their own homes, the Water Quality Association states.

"While we rely on public agencies for initial treatment, the best way to ensure safe drinking water is by empowering ourselves," said Dave Haataja, executive director of WQA.  "By putting protection in our homes, we can offer the Final Barrier against contaminants."

Residents in the state are confronted with increasing concerns about nitrate and arsenic contamination in their water.  Yet according to a recent AP report, California failed to spend almost half a billion dollars of federal money meant to improve water infrastructure in the state.  The fund gives out loans to public and private water systems for drinking water infrastructure improvements, including treatment facilities, pipelines and other projects.

"Nothing is more basic than clean and safe water," said Haataja.  "WQA and its member companies are dedicated to providing products and services that ensure our water is safe to drink."

How do you know the products will work?  The first step is to talk with a water professional.  The second step is selecting a product that is tested and certified.

The association offers certification for trained professionals to help give consumers confidence about the knowledge and ethical standards of local dealers, who can be found through "Find A Water Professional" at wqa.org.

The seal on a product means it has been tested and certified for effectiveness.  WQA uses independent standards established by the NSF International/American National Standards Institute (NSF/ANSI).  Products that have passed testing can be found at wqa.org.

"The companies that put their products and staff through our tests are committed to quality workmanship," Haataja said.  "They know it's the right thing to do, and they want their customers to look to them with confidence." 

In California, high concentrations of inorganic elements generally are found in 10 to 25 percent of the groundwater used for public supply, nitrate in 1 to 8 percent, and human-made organic chemical constituents in up to 2 percent, according to the US Geological Survey.  Last month, the USGS reported that barium and nitrate were detected at high concentrations in 5 percent of untreated groundwater used for public-water supply in the San Francisco Bay region.

For more information or to find locally certified water professionals and Gold Seal certified products, visit wqa.org.

For more information contact David Loveday, Director for Government Affairs and Communications at [email protected] or 630-929-2537 or 630-947-5955 - cell

Dedicated to consumer education and public awareness, the Water Quality Association is a not-for-profit trade group of businesses that provide treatment solutions for safe, clean water throughout the world – in homes, schools, commercial and industrial settings, and more.  WQA promotes best practices for superior products and environmental sustainability with the guidance of respected, independent standards.  Its labs conduct rigorous testing and certification, and training programs promote professionalism and ethics. Learn more: wqa.org

SOURCE Water Quality Association