The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded two cooperative agreements to NSF International for work on homeland security -- water safety. The project includes identification of priority areas of investigation, selection of potential technologies, test protocol development and technology evaluation to help secure the nation's drinking water.

The NSF Drinking Water Systems Center and the NSF Water Quality Protection Center will administer the agreements through the NSF/EPA Environmental Technology Verification Program. The DWSC verifies the effectiveness of home water treatment systems in providing protection against water contaminants, such as cryptosporidium and arsenic. The WQPC focuses on equipment designed to treat water used in the cleanup of contaminated buildings and equipment. This includes technologies for disinfectant mixers, storm water treatment, mercury amalgam separation, wastewater nutrient reduction and animal waste separation.

The first verification reports should be completed in late 2003.