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Department of Safety and Professional Services
Department of Safety and Professional Services

Checklist for the Review of Site-Specific Commercial Water Treatment Devices

Definitions

Non−Transient Non−Community Water System or NTNCWS

A non−community water system that regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons over 6 months per year.

Examples of non−transient non−community water systems include those serving schools, day care centers and factories.  [Wis. Admin. Code Section NR 810.02 (30)]

Transient Non−Community Water System or TNCWS

A non−community water system that serves at least 25 people at least 60 days of the year but does not regularly serve at least 25 of the same persons over 6 months per year. [Wis. Admin. Code Section NR 810.02 (42)]
Examples of transient non−community water systems include those serving taverns, motels, restaurants, churches, campgrounds and parks.

Water Treatment Device

A device which: 

  1. renders inactive or removes microbiological, particulate, inorganic, organic or radioactive contaminants from water which passes through the device or the water supply system downstream of the device; or 

  2. injects into the water supply system gaseous, liquid or solid additives other than water, to render inactive microbiological, particulate, inorganic, organic or radioactive contaminants. [Wis. Admin. Code Section SPS 381.01 (285)].

Applications of this type are made in response to a known violation of the U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Act, chs. NR 809 Wis. Adm. Code or NR 140 Wis. Adm. Code only when:

  1. All options for achieving a naturally occurring safe water supply have been examined in consultation with the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (WDNR); and

  2. The WDNR staff having jurisdiction over the public water supply system (NTNC/TNC) have accepted water treatment as a solution.

Obtaining WDNR concurrence under Wis. Admin. Code Section NR 812.37 (2) (e), (3) and (4) is mandatory prior to making an application of this type.

Be prepared to attach the following to the application in the form of a PDF

The following information must be provided with each water treatment device application:

General: All plans and specifications signed and/or stamped by a Wisconsin registered Architect, Designer, Engineer or licensed Master Plumber in accordance with Wis. Admin. Code Section SPS 382.20 (4) (c).

  1. A $250.00 (US) fee for each application submitted.

  2. A scaled plot plan and/or scaled floor plan as appropriate for a given design. 

    1. An isometric drawing of all affected piping systems.

    2. A completed water calculation worksheet for all pertinent water supply systems: https://wi.accessgov.com/dsps-external/Forms/Page/210/sbd-6479/0 

  3. A copy of sales brochures, web content or other promotional materials that will be used in Wisconsin.

  4. A written detailed description of device function(s).

  5. Detailed assembly drawings or exploded view of the device which clearly shows the water flow paths within the device.

  6. Detailed information on the size, color, location, information shown and methods for labeling the device.  Actual labels are acceptable.

  7. Complete installation instructions including detailed installation drawings indicating all connections between the device and plumbing system.

  8. A list and copy of all national standards that are not referenced in Wis. Admin. Code Section SPS 381.20, to which the device conforms.

  9. For wetted (i.e., potable water contacting) materials of construction, documentation shall be provided to show that the construction material is accepted for contact with potable water by an ANSI accredited listing agency acceptable to the Department.  See ch. 384 appendix, A-384.11

  10. The trade name, scientific name and chemical formula of any chemical used in the device that may be added to or leached into the water as part of the process or because of the process.  Acceptable documentation must be provided showing that the chemical(s) is accepted for use with potable water by an ANSI accredited listing agency acceptable to the Department.  See ch. 384 appendix, A-384.11.  Devices that contain a media that requires the sacrificial release of a regulated contaminant to reduce other specific contaminants from water must include effluent monitoring for the sacrificial contaminant in conjunction with all effluent target contaminant samples.  

  11. Disposal requirements of any wastewater, backwash water, filters, membranes, or other expendable system components.

  12. A signed report, or engineering specifications, by an ANSI accredited third party testing laboratory acceptable to the Department (see ch. 384 appendix, A-384.11) or the manufacturer, which concludes that the device performs in accordance with the assertions submitted to the Department.  The test report or engineering specifications must be complete enough to verify an acceptable testing protocol that was used and to identify the laboratory that performed the testing.  Acceptable testing protocols include those specified in the following standards:
    NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 44, 53, 55, 58, or 62.
    If varying from the testing protocols contained in these standards, it is strongly recommended that the variations be accepted by this Department in writing prior to performing any testing on the device. Otherwise, the Department cannot ensure the results of the testing will be acceptable.
    For devices that are not covered by the given NSF Standards, contact the Department for an acceptable testing protocol.

  13. A graph indicating the pressure loss, in psig, through point-of-entry (i.e., whole house) devices, over the entire flow rate range of the device.

  14. Hydrostatic pressure testing. At minimum, the Department requires a hydrostatic pressure test performed at 150 psig, for a duration of 15 min., at a water temperature of approximately 73.4 F. This information is only required for in-line devices subject to line pressure.
    Devices that discharge to atmosphere are exempt from this requirement.

Additional Information

Confidential Information:

Information may be identified as confidential by a submitter.  Such identification must be made at the time of submittal by permanently marking “confidential business information” on each page containing information deemed a trade secret under Wis. Stat. Section 134.90 (1) (c) which reads:

(c) “Trade secret" means information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process to which all of the following apply:

1. The information derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use.

2. The information is the subject of efforts to maintain its secrecy that are reasonable under the circumstances.

Links:

Plumbing Code (i.e., chs. SPS 381-387 Wis. Adm. Code, chs. SPS 382 and 384 are the primary plumbing related code chapters): https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/sps/safety_and_buildings_and_environment/380_387

Plumbing Product Listing Service (Search under the “Plumbing Products” tab): https://esla.force.com/publiclookup  

General Information:

If granted, the term of approval is five years and effective statewide.  All submitters are notified six months prior to their expiration date via email notifications. Approvals can be renewed for additional five-year terms; the renewal fee is $125.00.

Approvals can be revised (modified) after being approved; however, the manufacturer must apply for a revision; the revision fee is $125.00. Revising a file does not extend the expiration date of the original approval.

If an approved plumbing product is modified or additional assertions of function or performance are made, the approval shall be considered null and void, unless the change is submitted to the Department for review and the approval is reaffirmed.

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