Certification
Operation Pure Water certifies bottled water and beverage companies for PFAS and Microplastic contaminant concentrations in their products.
Certification will be accomplished in conjunction with an independent audit performed by an international recognized certification firm with a focus on auditing bottled water or beverage company water sources, treatment systems, bottling and storage operations. From this audit, locations will be selected for sampling by independent environmental consultants, analysis by state or federal certified analytical labs. and then compared to water quality standards established by Operation Pure Water from current regulations and recognized medical research.
Once certification is received, along with our seal/label that can be placed on bottled water and beverage products, companies then can promote their purity and transparency into the their consumer marketplace. Recertification will be required on an annual basis. Certifications will also be posted and promoted on our website.
2025/2026 Water Quality Standards for Purity
Water quality standards and supporting analytical methods for PFAS and Microplastics are still in development or being optimized, and therefore they will change over time. Therefore, Operation Pure Water certification standards will be dynamic in nature and will be updated as needed, based on regulations, analytical developments, and any new relevant health based information. Certifications will be applicable for a year for the standards evaluated at the time of certification.
The initial round of certification standards will be more protective of human health and will result in a big step towards eliminating these hazards. Any updates will only increase consumer protection and confidence.
PFAS
Currently States, EPA, and other countries have proposed or finalized standards for PFAS in drinking water.
Our standards will be based on the evaluation of these PFAS compounds, e.g., PFOA and PFAS, as well as any other PFAS compounds that are reported to pose potential health threats.
Initial standards for PFAS will be as originally promulgated by EPA with analysis by EPA Method 1633.
Rich Text | Enforceable MCL | Health Goal (MCLG) |
|---|---|---|
Mixtures (two or more of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, PFBS) | Hazard Index 1 | Hazard Index 1 |
HFPO-DA (GenX) | 10 ppt | 10 ppt |
PFNA (Perfluorononanoic acid) | 10 ppt | 10 ppt |
PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid) | 10 ppt | 10 ppt |
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) | 4 ppt | 0 |
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) | 4 ppt | 0 |
Ultra Short Chain (USC) PFAS
EPA Method 1633 was developed to standardize PFAS testing across environmental matrices, but it primarily targets longer-chain compounds. However, recent studies and client demands have highlighted the ubiquity and persistence of USC-PFAS, such as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), perfluoropropionic acid (PFPrA) and perfluoroethanesulfonic acid (PFEtS), in drinking water, industrial effluents and even pristine groundwater sources. These compounds are increasingly used as replacements for regulated long-chain PFAS, making their detection critical for accurate risk assessment and regulatory compliance.
Adding USC testing isn’t just a technical enhancement; it’s a strategic decision that strengthens your data and supports smarter decisions across industries.
USC-PFAS pose real risks. Their high mobility and resistance to degradation enable them to travel farther and persist longer than their long-chain counterparts. Including them in your analysis helps identify hidden liabilities, especially in drinking water and semiconductor waste streams where USC-PFAS are prevalent.
At this time, our certification will not be based on these results and will be held confidential if requested. As more is understood about these associated health risks, our certification requirements will be updated.
Total Fluorine Analysis
Note that total fluorine analysis (TOF) can also be conducted to provide bottled water and beverage companies with additional data on other PFAS contaminants that might be in their products that are not currently regulated.
Note that total fluorine analysis (TOF) can also be conducted to provide bottled water and beverage companies with additional data on other PFAS contaminants that might be in their products that are not currently regulated.
Microplastics
For Microplastics, guidelines will be based on California Water Board Regulations with analysis by
Raman spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy or equivalents https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202320240sb1147 and https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/documents/microplastics/swb-mp1-rev1.pdf
California adopted a formal definition of microplastics in drinking water, defined as solid polymeric materials with at least three dimensions greater than 1 nm and less than 5,000 µm.
A “good” California Guidance Standard is ≤ 1,000 particles/L is achievable today using existing treatment technologies and provides a prudent public health safeguard while science on toxicity advances.
Major Polymers:
Polyethylene (PE)
· Polypropylene (PP)
· Polystyrene (PS)
· Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
· Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
· Nylon (PA)
· Acrylics (PMMA)
These represent >90% of microplastics typically detected in environmental and drinking water samples.
Parameter | Interim Target Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
Visible plastics (>1 mm) | Not detectable | Aligns with aesthetic and safety goals. |
Particles >100 µm | ≤ 100 particles/L | Larger fragments are easier to detect and remove; useful as a compliance indicator. |
Total microplastic concentration | ≤ 1,000 particles/L (≥1 µm) | Precautionary; aligns with UNEP, EFSA, and emerging California pilot data. |