Particulate lead is inadequately consideredin lead certification procedures. In 2007,modification of the NSF-53 testing protocolfor lead reduction, consisting of the additionof particulate lead in the NSF challenge water,resulted in cancellation of the certification ofpour-through point-of-use devices. The resultsof this study showed that tap-mounted andunder-the-sink domestic filtration deviceswere efficient in removing total lead (bothdissolved and particulate) under the NSFreference level of 10 g/L. However, pour-throughdomestic filtration devices poorlyremoved particulate lead, and, as a result,high lead levels remained in effluent water.This lack of efficiency is attributed to the typeof filter used in pour-through devices andjustifies cancellation of the NSF-53 certificationfor lead reduction for such devices in2007. The results of this research also showthe importance of selecting appropriatedevices for lead reduction, because particulatelead can be released sporadically from leadservice lines, premise plumbing, and faucets.Includes 30 references, tables, figures.
Keywords: Lead; Particulates; Home Water Treatment Units; Service Lines; Reduction; Certification
