NSF/ANSI Standard 46 - Evaluation of Components and Devices ...

NSF/ANSI Standard 46 - 

Evaluation of Components and 

Devices Used in Wastewater 

Treatment Systems

Today’s Agenda 

• Brief overview of current NSF/ANSI Onsite 

Wastewater Treatment Product Standards 

• Review of Standard 46, include a running account 

of changes proposed in Draft NSF Standard 385 – 

a new standard under development which will 

encompass only disinfection devices 

• Questions

NSF/ANSI Onsite Wastewater 

Standards 

Brief Overview

NSF/American National Standards for Onsite 

Wastewater Treatment Systems 

• NSF/ANSI 41-2011 Non-liquid saturated treatment systems (1978) 

• NSF/ANSI 46-2010 Evaluation of components and devices used in 

wastewater (1997) 

• NSF/ANSI 240-2011 Drainfield trench product sizing for gravity 

dispersal onsite wastewater treatment and dispersal systems (2011) 

• NSF/ANSI 40-2010 Residential wastewater treatment systems (1970) 

• NSF/ANSI 245-2010 Wastewater treatment systems – nitrogen 

reduction (2007) 

• NSF/ANSI 350-2011 Onsite residential and commercial water reuse 

treatment systems (2011) 

• NSF/ANSI 350-1-2011 Onsite residential and commercial graywater 

treatment systems for subsurface discharge (2011) 

• NSF/ANSI 360-2010 Wastewater treatment systems – field 

performance verification (2010) 

• More under development

NSF/ANSI Standard 46 

• Standard 46: Evaluation of Components and 

Devices Used in Wastewater Treatment 

Systems - includes 

– Grinder pumps 

– Septic tank effluent filters 

– Disinfection devices 

• Chlorine 

• Ultraviolet 

• Ozone

• Standard 46: 


– Initially included septic tank effluent filters and 

grinder pumps (1997). Disinfection devices were 

added to Std. 46 as they came into more wide 

spread use in the industry and as the need to 

standardize these components became apparent 

– With publication of Std. 385 Std. 46 will be revised 

to omit disinfection devices


• Grinder pumps and related components 

– The standard includes requirements for grinder 

pumps, pump basins, check and air or vacuum 

release valves included in the grinder pump 

package and filtration devices for septic tank 

systems 

– Intended for pumping wastewater from residential 

sources


• Chlorination Devices Std. 46 Section 11 

– Establishes requirements for two classifications of 

chlorination devices rated at 200 - 1,500 GPD: 

• Chlorine dispensers – defined as devices that 

deliver chlorine in the absence of a contact 

chamber (385 defines as devices designed to dispense 

controlled amounts of chlorine into water to achieve an 

aqueous solution of chlorine) 

• Chlorine disinfection devices – devices that 

deliver chlorine and provide a contact chamber 

for demonstrating fecal coliform reduction 

Same classifications under Std. 385


• Chlorination devices 

– Performance testing and evaluation 

• Consists of three procedures: 

1. Chlorine resistance test 

2. Life test 

3. Chlorination test – (Std. 385 omits this test for 

dispensers) 

• Tests conducted on one or more devices but 

the life test and chlorination tests must be 

conducted on a single device in the order 

indicated above




• Chlorine resistance test – device & parts normally 

in contact with chlorine are exposed to “max 

concentration” for 100 days (Std. 385 adds a requirement 

that the concentration of the “soup” be greater than 15 

mg/L) 

• Performed in the NSF lab at Ann Arbor 

• Criteria - shall show no visible signs of chemical attack or 

structural deformation. 

(essentially the same test under 46 and 385)




• Life test – 30-day test, no maintenance 

– Must contain sufficient chlorine product at test start to 

last through testing 

– Manufacturer specifies design flow conditions, min. 

contact time, min. & max. flow rates, mixing 

requirements and the chlorine to be used 

– Chlorine dispensers - tested at Ann Arbor using 

dechlorinated potable water (a default tank provided 

as a test contact chamber if not included by Mfg.) 

– Chlorination devices - tested so far at Waco site 

using actual treated effluent (Mfg. provides contact 

chamber)




• Life test – Hydraulic loading (same for 

dispensers and devices under existing Std. 46 and 

follows typical Std. 40 dosing pattern) 

6 a.m. to 9 a.m. 35% of total minimum daily flow 

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 25% of total minimum daily flow 

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 40% of total minimum daily flow




• Life test – Hydraulic loading – Under 385, 

assumes a more complicated dosing regimen to include 

24-hour dosing period, alternating each day between 

manufacturer’s max and min flow capacity. In addition, 

385 requires testing for one day between days 24 and 30 

over a 12-hour period as follows: 

0-3 hours 10% of maximum flow 

3-6 hours 60% of maximum flow 

6-9 hours minimum flow rate 

9-12 hours 100% of maximum flow rate




• Life test – Influent Wastewater 

Characteristics (46) 

(Characteristics are different for dispensers and devices) 

– Chlorine dispensers 

» From a potable water supply, dechlorinated 

pH 6.0 to 9.0 

temperature 60 ± 5º F (16 ± 2.5 º C) 

Chlorine 

≤ 0.1 mg/L




• Life test – Influent Wastewater 

Characteristics – Under 385 

(Also different for dispensers and devices) 

– Chlorine dispensers – expanded to: 

pH 6.0 to 9.0 

temperature 60 ± 5º F (16 ± 2.5 º C) 

Total Chlorine 

TDS 

≤ 0.5 mg/L 

200 - 500 mg/L 

Hardness < 170 mg/L as CaCO 3 

TOC 

1 - 3 mg/L



– Life test – Influent Wastewater Characteristics 

– Chlorination devices (46) 

» From secondary treated effluent 

» Criteria: 

CBOD 5 

TSS 

fecal coliform 

≤ 25 mg/L 

≤ 30 mg/L 

≤ 10 4 to 10 6 organisms/100 mL 

pH 6.0 to 9.0 

temperature. 

Ammonia 

6º to 30º C (42 to 86 Fº) 

≥ 2.0 mg/L and ≤ 4.0 mg/L



– Life test – Influent Wastewater Characteristics 

– Chlorination devices - Under 385 

(Also from secondary treated effluent) 

» Criteria (expanded to include): 

CBOD 5 

TSS 

fecal coliform 

≥ 10 and ≤ 25 mg/L 

≥ 10 and ≤ 30 mg/L 

10 3 to 10 6 organisms/100 mL 

pH 6.0 to 9.0 

temperature. 

Ammonia (for Cl & O 3 tests) 

UV transmittance of influent 

6º to 30º C (42 to 86 Fº) 

≥ 4.0 mg/L and ≤ 6.0 mg/L 

50 – 75 % per cm




• Life test – General Criteria (for both 

dispensers and devices): 

• At the conclusion of the life test there shall be no 

visible signs of damage or structural change that 

may adversely affect proper operation of any 

components of the chlorination device




• Life test – General Criteria - Under 385 

– For dispensers: 

» The average chlorine concentration of all 

hydraulic loading conditions shall be ≥ 15 mg/L 

– For devices: 

» At the conclusion of the life test there shall be no 

visible signs of damage or structural change that 

may adversely affect proper operation of any 

components of the chlorination device




• Chlorination test – conducted immediately following 

the life test with the same device used in life test (both) 

– No maintenance performed 

– Chlorination devices with two or more disinfectant 

feed settings shall be tested at the minimum and 

maximum settings specified by manufacturer 

(Under 385 there is no chlorination test for dispensers)




• Chlorination test – (for both under 46) 

– Hydraulic loading 

» Flow Introduced continuously over a 3-hour 

period at approximately 40% of the rated min. 

and max. daily hydraulic capacity for each 

feed setting 

» Requires hydraulic loading at 3 hours per 

combination of feed and flow rates (four 

possible combinations) for a total of 12 hours




• Chlorination test – 


» The four combinations are as follows: 

1 maximum feed at 40% of maximum flow 

2 maximum feed at 40% of minimum flow 

3 minimum feed at 40% of maximum flow 

4 minimum feed at 40% of minimum flow




• Chlorination test – (Under 385 – devices only) 


» carried out over three, three-hour dosing 

periods, each interspersed with a required 

purge of the contact chamber equaling 2 

chamber volumes 

» a distinction is made between variable feed 

rate devices and fixed feed rate devices to 

allow for testing at min/max feed rates




• Chlorination test – 

– Influent water characteristics (46) 

» Same as cited for Life test 

– Under 385 

» Same as cited for Life test




• Chlorination test – Effluent Sampling: 

Under 46 - A total of 5 grab samples shall be 

collected, beginning after a minimum of 2 chamber 

volumes of the influent wastewater has passed 

through the device and continuing at 10-minute 

intervals (including contact chamber volume) 

Under 385 – a total of 5 grab samples also 

collected, but during each dosing period at 10, 50, 

90, 130 & 170 minutes into the dosing period (influent 

E. coli & enterococci measured every time effluent 

sample collected)




• Chlorination test – Effluent Criteria: 

– Chlorine dispensers 

» The average effluent chlorine concentration of all 

hydraulic loading conditions shall be ≥ 15 mg/L 

– Chlorine disinfection devices 

» An average effluent fecal coliform concentration 

of all hydraulic loading conditions of ≤ 200 

organisms /100 mL on the first day that the 

influent requirements are met




• Chlorination test – Effluent Criteria: 

Under 385 - No chlorination test required for dispensers 

– Chlorine disinfection devices 

» Geometric mean of all required effluent samples 

must meet the following pass/fail criteria: 

» fecal coliform ≤ 200 organisms /100 mL 

» E. coli ≤ 126 organisms /100 mL 

» Enterococci ≤ 35 organisms /100 mL



– Other requirements (both 46 & 385) 

• Failure sensing and signaling equipment to detect and 

alert owner to failures with audible and visual signal 

• Flow design – a designated flow path indicative of entire 

treatment process 

• Service label – A clearly visible label or plate 

permanently located in a visible location on the device 

providing instructions for obtaining service, including 

name, address and phone number of manufacturer’s 

authorized representative and the acceptable type of 

chlorine to be used in the device. For dispensers, label 

must specify min. size of contact tank to be used



– Other requirements (continued) 

• Data plate – must specify chlorine “dispenser” or “device” 

• NSF Mark of Certification – not certified if not marked 

• Ease of cleaning – shall allow for easy access 

• Valve and component identification 

• Product literature 

• Installation and Owner’s manual


• Positive displacement pumps Sec. 11.7 

– Addresses performance testing and evaluation for 

chlorination devices incorporating a positive displacement 

pump or which operate under increased hydraulic pressure 

– Criteria: 

– Positive displacement pump systems 

» Shall deliver an output rate that is within ± 10% 

of the delivery specified by the manufacturer 

– Pressure applications 

» shall show no evidence of rupture, leakage, burst 

or permanent deformation when subjected to 

11/2 times mfg. max operating pressure


• Ultraviolet disinfection devices Std. 46 

Section 12 

– Establishes requirements for UV devices that 

deliver UV light radiation to secondary treated 

wastewater from small sources such as individual 

homes and small commercial sources (400 to 

1500 GPD) and provides an exposure chamber for 

fecal coliform reduction that treats wastewater to 

less than 200 fecal coliforms per 100 mL 

– 385 cites as “exposure chamber for 

microbiological organism reduction”


• Ultraviolet disinfection devices 

– Performance and evaluation 

• Testing performed on one UV disinfection device 

• Device to be tested is determined to be the most 

representative model within the model series 

• Must be capable of operating for 90 days with no 

operation or maintenance performed on the device 

• Mfg. to specify all key elements for effective UV 

disinfection, including design flow conditions, minimum 

contact time, mixing requirements and max. & min. GPD 

wastewater flow rates the device is designed to handle




• UV disinfection test 

– Assembled, installed and operated in accordance 

with the manufacturer’s specification 

– Mfg. to specify UV lamp to be used – lamp length, 

rated output (watts at 254 nm), irradiance at 1 m and 

rated lamp life, defined as the point at which 

irradiance is reduced to 70% of initial performance 

– UV lamp output shall be measured at the beginning 

and the end of the 90-day test period 

– (385 adds a 100-hr lamp burn-in prior to testing & 

specifies 100% min/max testing at 6 hrs each)





– Hydraulic loading (both 46 & 385) 

6 a.m. to 9 a.m. 35% of total minimum daily flow 

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 25% of total minimum daily flow 

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 40% of total minimum daily flow 

– Dosing volumes measure daily 

– 30-day avg. volume of wastewater within 100% ± 

10% of daily rated hydraulic capacity





– Influent water characteristics 

» actual secondary treated wastewater meeting the 

following criteria: 

CBOD 5 

TSS 

Fecal coliform 

25 - 45mg/L 

30 - 45mg/L 

10 4 to 10 6 MPN/100 mL 

pH 6.0 to 9.0 

temperature. 

18º ± 6º C (60 ± 20 Fº) 

UV transmittance of radiation 

50-75% per cm 

– 385 – same expanded infl. characteristics as in 

life test





– Influent and effluent sampling - 46 

» Except for fecal coliform, all samples will be flowproportional, 

24-hour composites obtained during 

periods of system dosing 

» Daily fecal values shall be the geometric mean of 

three 1-L grab samples 

» Samples shall be collected starting the 15 th day of the 

test and at 15-day intervals during the 90-day test 

– 385 – two, 1-L grabs, 30 min. after start of each 

loading period (17 total each loading period for 

test)





– Criteria (46) 

» Individual fecal coliform effluent samples not to 

exceed 200 organisms/100 mL 

» All components designed to be exposed to wastewater 

and UV light shall be resistant to UV attack, corrosion 

and structural deformation 

385 - Geometric mean of all required effluent samples 

collected in final 10 weeks must meet the pass/fail 

criteria: 







• End of UV lamp life disinfection test 

– Evaluates disinfection capability of the device with the UV 

lamp output adjusted to 70% of initial 

– UV lamp output is measured after sampling on day 90 – if 

the measurement is 70% or less of initial output, no end of 

lamp life test is required 

– If the measurement is greater than 70% lamp output is 

adjusted to 70% 

– Run in a 2-day period following the 90 day disinfection test 

under same test conditions, collecting samples 30 minutes 

after introduction of challenge water on day 2 

• 385 – Test omitted




• End of UV lamp life disinfection test 

– Criteria (46) 

» Fecal coliform effluent samples not to exceed 200 

organisms/100 mL 

– All components designed to be exposed to wastewater 

and UV light shall be resistant to UV attack, corrosion 

and structural deformation



– Other requirements 

• Failure sensing and signaling equipment to detect and 

alert owner to failures with audible and visual signal 

• Flow design – a designated flow path indicative of entire 

treatment process 

• Service label – A clearly visible label or plate 

permanently located in a visible location on the UV 

device providing instructions for obtaining service, 

including name, address and phone number of 

manufacturer’s authorized representative.



– Other requirements (continued) 

• Data plate – must specify the device as a “UV 

disinfection device.” 

• NSF Mark of Certification – not certified if not marked 

• Maintenance/ease of cleaning – shall allow for easy 

access (385 adds interlock to prevent exposure) 

• Component and system safety – must limit opportunity 

for exposure to UV light – proper warning label, access 

ports with locks or cover removed only with specialized 

tools (385 adds interlock switch to protect exposure) 

• Product literature 

• Installation and Owner’s manual


Ozone generation Devices – 

Std. 46 Section 13 

Establishes requirements for ozonation systems 

used to diffuse controlled amounts of ozone into a 

contact chamber for demonstrating fecal coliform 

reduction (microbiological organism reduction in 

385) in the effluent of secondary treated 

residential wastewater between 200 & 1,500 GPD


• Ozone generation devices 


• Consists of four procedures: 

1. Ozone resistance evaluation 

2. Ozonation system life test 

3. Fecal coliform (microbiological organism in 385) 

deactivation test 

4. Ozone loss test 

• Tests conducted on one or more ozonation 

systems but the life test, fecal coliform test and 

the ozone loss test must be conducted on a 

single device in the order indicated above




• Ozone resistance evaluation 

– Parts normally in contact with ozone must be 

constructed of materials with known acceptable 

ozone resistance 

– Acceptable documentation must include component 

materials manufacturer’s compatibility charts or 

warranty statement 

– Materials compatibility verified via system inspection 

– Failure to meet requirements constitutes failure of 

the ozonation system 

• 385 – No change




• Ozone system life test 

– Must be capable of operating for 30 consecutive 

days with no maintenance 

– Mfg to specify all key elements for effective 

ozonation, including ozone generation rate, diffusion 

and dispersal criteria, min/max contact chamber 

sizing, min/max water levels, flow conditions, etc. 

– If no contact chamber submitted a default tank will be 

used 

– Mfg to specify max/min GPD wastewater flow rate & 

dwell time in the contact chamber 

• 385 – No change




• Ozone system life test – 


6 a.m. to 9 a.m. 35% of total maximum daily flow 

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 25% of total maximum daily flow 

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 40% of total maximum daily flow 

» Dosing volumes measured daily 

» 30-day averages must be 100% ± 10% of daily rated 

capacity 

– 385 – 1 st day of test = 100% of min/max dosed 

for 3 hrs each





– Influent water characteristics (46) 

» secondary treated wastewater meeting the 

following criteria: 

CBOD 5 

TSS 

Fecal coliform 

25 - 45mg/L 

30 - 45mg/L 

10 4 to 10 6 MPN/100 mL 

pH 6.0 to 9.0 

temperature. 

6º to 30º C (42 to 86Fº) 

– 385 – same expanded influent criteria as for Cl & 

UV testing





– Criteria (both 46 & 385) 

» No visible signs of damage or structural change 

that may adversely affect operation of any 

component of the system




• Fecal coliform deactivation test 

– Grab samples for fecal coliform testing shall be 

collected at the discharge of the mixing tank during 

the Ozone system life test 

– Collection times varied day to day over 30-day test 

with 50% (reduced to 25% in 385) taken during 

hydraulic loading periods 

– One sample/day which has an influent fecal count 

within the specified range 

– Testing continues until 30 samples have been 

collected




• Fecal coliform deactivation test criteria (46) 

– Ozone disinfection devices shall achieve a geometric 

mean fecal concentration of ≤ 200 CFU per 100 mL 

– 385 

» No visible signs of damage or structural changes 

» Geometric mean of all required effluent samples must 

meet the pass/fail criteria: 







• Ozone loss Evaluation (46) 

– Ozone detectors installed on the installation to 

monitor for ozone gas feeding back into the system 

or lost through the outlet of the contact chamber 

– Conducted simultaneously with the Ozone system 

life test and fecal deactivation test 

– 30 days data required 

– Criteria: No day’s data shall indicate an ozone 

concentration greater than 5.0 ppm. 

– 385 – No change

Summary 

• Standard 46 provides for the testing and evaluation of common 

devices available today for disinfection of secondary treated 

residential wastewater, including chlorine, ultraviolet and 

ozone. It also addresses other treatment components, including 

septic tank effluent filters and grinder pumps. For the past year 

a new standard has been in development that will encompass 

only disinfection devices, Draft NSF Standard 385 – Wastewater 

treatment systems - Disinfection. This presentation has 

reviewed the current Standard 46 requirements and has 

compared the changes proposed in Draft Standard 385.

Contact Information 

• Tom Bruursema 

General Manager 

(734) 769-5575 

bruursema@nsf.org 

• Ron Grimes 

Regulatory Affairs Manager 

(734) 827-6863 

rgrimes@nsf.org 

• Sharon Steiner 

Business Unit Manager 

(734) 827-6846 

steiner@nsf.org 

• NSF Web Site: 

www.nsf.org 

• Toll free 800-673-6275

NSF/ANSI Standard 46 - Evaluation of Components and Devices ...

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