WQA Sustainability Mark

The WQA Sustainability Mark is a product certification awarded by the Water Quality Association to drinking water treatment products that meet the voluntary industry standard WQA S-803: Sustainable Drinking Water Treatment Systems. It is the first certification of its kind in the drinking water treatment industry and the only environmental certification program in the world with ANSI accreditation to both ISO 17065 and ISO 14024 for Type I Environmental Labeling. Products that earn the mark have been independently verified to be environmentally responsible across their entire life cycle — from raw materials and production through distribution, use, and end-of-life disposal.

To qualify, a product must first hold certification under an applicable safety or performance standard such as NSF/ANSI 42, and the manufacturing facilities must conform to the prerequisite standard WQA S-801: Sustainable Management. Notably, no product testing is required for the sustainability certification itself — evaluation focuses on auditing production processes and corporate management systems. The program covers a range of treatment technologies including activated carbon filters, UV systems, and dispensers, with expansion underway to include softeners, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis systems.

This certification is aimed at manufacturers of drinking water treatment products who want third-party validation of their environmental and social responsibility practices. It is recognized across a broad range of markets internationally, spanning North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and beyond. For manufacturers, it serves as a credible, independently verified signal to retailers and consumers that their products align with recognized sustainability best practices.