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Simplifying performance standards for Australian drinking water treatment systems
Statements
- The specifications of AS 3497:2021, Drinking water treatment systems — Design and performance requirement, cover a broad range of systems, from a small under sink drinking water filter in a home residence to commercial filtration within a large building.
- By simplifying this standard, it becomes clearer for industry and consumers what products fall under this standard and Australian WaterMark Technical Specification WMTS-103:2016.
- AS 3497:2021 reinforces an alignment with internationally recognised NSF/ANSI standards to support clarity around performance claims.
AS/NZS 3497:1998, Drinking water treatment units - Plumbing requirements, has been superseded by recently published revision AS 3497:2021, Drinking water treatment systems — Design and performance requirement.
The revision aims to support industry in achieving WaterMark conformity with the WaterMark Certification Scheme, a mandatory requirement in Australia for certain plumbing and drainage products. The WaterMark Certification Scheme requires products to meet relevant standards to ensure they are safe and fit-for-purpose while providing guidance and confidence for consumer choice. To achieve this, AS 3497:2021 provides minimum requirements for the construction, installation, and testing of a broad range of drinking water treatment systems.
“This revision will see that a nationally recognised standard will specify the reduction of containments across a wide range of drinking water treatment systems,” said Roland Terry-Lloyd, Head of Standards Development at Standards Australia.
“The outcome is that the Australian community can be confident in their choice of systems whether it be a small under sink drinking water filter in a home residence, or a commercial system with the purpose to filter water for a large building.”
AS 3497:2021 adopts current industry terminology and definitions. These changes have simplified the standard and allowed for clear guidance on what products require certification.
“This will help to ensure that appropriately certified products are able to be installed by a licensed plumber and that all claims have been substantiated, making it more difficult for unsubstantiated and untested products to enter the market,” said David King, Chair of joint Australian/New Zealand Committee WS-027, Drinking Water Treatment Systems.
To revalidate that AS 3497:2021 is aligned with international standards, the revision removed reference to AS/NZS 4348, Water supply - Domestic type water treatment appliances - Performance requirements for testing performance protocols, with all performance claims to be certified to NSF/ANSI standards.
“By recognising there being only one method of performance evaluation, this will give clarity to the standard and make all performance claims easier to understand, which is critical when making health claims to consumers,” concluded Mr King.
The recently published standard is:AS 3497:2021, Drinking water treatment systems - Design and performance requirement
- The specifications of AS 3497:2021, Drinking water treatment systems — Design and performance requirement, cover a broad range of systems, from a small under sink drinking water filter in a home residence to commercial filtration within a large building.
- By simplifying this standard, it becomes clearer for industry and consumers what products fall under this standard and Australian WaterMark Technical Specification WMTS-103:2016.
- AS 3497:2021 reinforces an alignment with internationally recognised NSF/ANSI standards to support clarity around performance claims.
AS/NZS 3497:1998, Drinking water treatment units - Plumbing requirements, has been superseded by recently published revision AS 3497:2021, Drinking water treatment systems — Design and performance requirement.
The revision aims to support industry in achieving WaterMark conformity with the WaterMark Certification Scheme, a mandatory requirement in Australia for certain plumbing and drainage products. The WaterMark Certification Scheme requires products to meet relevant standards to ensure they are safe and fit-for-purpose while providing guidance and confidence for consumer choice. To achieve this, AS 3497:2021 provides minimum requirements for the construction, installation, and testing of a broad range of drinking water treatment systems.
“This revision will see that a nationally recognised standard will specify the reduction of containments across a wide range of drinking water treatment systems,” said Roland Terry-Lloyd, Head of Standards Development at Standards Australia.
“The outcome is that the Australian community can be confident in their choice of systems whether it be a small under sink drinking water filter in a home residence, or a commercial system with the purpose to filter water for a large building.”
AS 3497:2021 adopts current industry terminology and definitions. These changes have simplified the standard and allowed for clear guidance on what products require certification.
“This will help to ensure that appropriately certified products are able to be installed by a licensed plumber and that all claims have been substantiated, making it more difficult for unsubstantiated and untested products to enter the market,” said David King, Chair of joint Australian/New Zealand Committee WS-027, Drinking Water Treatment Systems.
To revalidate that AS 3497:2021 is aligned with international standards, the revision removed reference to AS/NZS 4348, Water supply - Domestic type water treatment appliances - Performance requirements for testing performance protocols, with all performance claims to be certified to NSF/ANSI standards.
“By recognising there being only one method of performance evaluation, this will give clarity to the standard and make all performance claims easier to understand, which is critical when making health claims to consumers,” concluded Mr King.
The recently published standard is:AS 3497:2021, Drinking water treatment systems - Design and performance requirement
