The Canadian Water Quality Association (CWQA) is anticipating a positive outcome as a result of a proposal recently submitted by CWQA, Water Quality Association (WQA) and Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) to the the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec, a provincial regulatory body that oversees building inspections. See www.rbq.gouv.qc.ca (in French—for English, click HERE).

The joint proposal recommends a delay to enforcement dates of a new regulation under the province’s Construction Code which requires that drinking water treatment units sold and installed in the Province conform to one of the following standards published by NSF International:
a) ANSI/NSF 44, “Residential cation exchange water softeners,”
b) ANSI/NSF 53, “Drinking water treatment units— Health effects,”
c) ANSI/NSF 55, “Ultraviolet microbiological water treatment systems,”
d) ANSI/NSF 58, “Reverse osmosis drinking water treatment systems,” or
e) ANSI/NSF 62, “Drinking water distillation systems.”

The regulation originally called for an enforcement date of Oct. 1, 2002, but the industry alliance was successful in obtaining delays.

CWQA is very pleased with the progress that has been made to date as a result of the cooperative discussions with the Province and is confident that the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec has considered the industry position.

The joint proposal by CWQA, WQA and CIPH proposes the following compliance dates for products under the appropriate ANSI/NSF standards:

Standard____Proposed Date for Compliance in Quebec
…62___________April 1, 2003
…53___________July 1, 2004
…58___________July1, 2004
…44___________Oct. 1, 2004
…55___________Oct. 1, 2004

CWQA is hopeful that the Province of Quebec will adopt the enforcement dates proposed by the industry and with CWQA’s assistance, disseminate this information into the industry.

The industry served by the Canadian WQA and its members encompass water quality improvement for homes, businesses, industry and institutions in these broad areas: drinking water and working water.

CWQA stands as a unified voice for the Point-of-Use/Point-of-Entry (POU/ POE) water quality improvement industry in Canada. For more information, visit our website: www.cwqa.com

Editor's Note
For additional information, see WC&P's "PipeLines" column for April 2003, HERE

About the author
Constance Wrigley-Thomas is the manager of the Canadian Water Quality Association. She can be contacted at (416) 695-3068, (416) 695-2945 (fax) or email: wrigley-thomas@cwqa.com