Chris Schantz | Franklin Electric

Pumping systems used in municipal water treatment and distribution are expected to perform reliably under demanding conditions—often operating continuously, handling high flows and serving critical public infrastructure. When those systems are specified for potable water applications in the United States and Canada, performance alone is not enough. Depending on the authority, equipment may also be required to meet National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)/American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 61 standards designed to protect public health.

While the standard is familiar to most engineers, how certification applies in real‑world system specifications is often less obvious. Certification may extend beyond individual pump components. It can also depend on specific configurations or be influenced by how and where a system is manufactured and assembled.

Understanding these nuances matters. Early specification decisions can determine whether a system remains compliant, approvable and supportable throughout its life cycle. Key certification factors often influence pumping system selection. Understanding these factors helps engineers specify with greater confidence and fewer approval issues later on.

Why Drinking Water Certification Matters

NSF/ANSI 61 establishes health regulations for materials and products that come into contact with drinking water. Its purpose is to ensure that substances leaching from system components do not pose a risk to human health. For most municipal pumping systems, this means every wetted component must be evaluated against strict criteria before the system can be used in potable water applications.

Because pumping systems often include multiple components—pumps, motors, seals, coatings, instrumentation and piping interfaces—certification is rarely as simple as verifying a single product label. Instead, compliance needs to be evaluated at the system level, including how components are made, assembled and used in the field.

| IMAGE 1: When products, packaging or literature are marked as certified, this covers the manufacturing facility and the product. (Images courtesy of Franklin Electric)

What Drinking Water Certification Really Means

One of the most common sources of confusion is the assumption that drinking water compliance applies only to primary pump components. In reality, NSF/ANSI 61 evaluates all materials in contact with potable water, including items that are sometimes overlooked during specification.

Elastomers and gasket materials
Seal faces and lubricants
Coatings or surface treatments
Auxiliary fittings and monitoring interfaces

In addition, certification is not limited to the product itself. The manufacturing facility plays a critical role. A system may be built using compliant materials, but if it is assembled in a facility that has not been evaluated and approved, it may not meet certification requirements. This distinction often surprises engineers, particularly on projects involving custom assemblies or system modifications.

Key Variables to Evaluate

To reduce risk, engineers must look beyond general claims of compliance and understand the key variables included in certification. Essential questions include:

Is the complete pumping system certified or only individual components?
Does the certification apply to the specified configuration?
Are there pressure, temperature or material limitations associated with the certification?
Has the manufacturing location been evaluated as part of the certification process?

Independent certifying bodies publish listings that define the scope of certification, including approved materials, configurations and manufacturing locations. Reviewing these listings is one of the most reliable ways to confirm suitability for drinking water applications.

Specifying a pumping system for potable water requires balancing multiple variables that affect not only submittal approval but long‑term reliability and operating confidence. Primary considerations include:

Wetted materials – All surfaces in contact with potable water must meet NSF/ANSI 61 requirements for the intended operating conditions.
System configuration – Certification often applies only to defined configurations; changes to seals, coatings or auxiliary components may impact compliance.
Operating conditions – Pressure, temperature and flow must remain within certified limits.
Service and maintenance – Replacement parts, lubricants and modifications can unintentionally compromise compliance if not reviewed for potable‑water use.

| IMAGE 2: Every part of a pumping system that comes in contact with potable water will need to be evaluated against drinking water standards.

Specifying Drinking Water Systems With Confidence

Given the complexity of drinking water standards, engineers benefit from a structured, proactive approach to pumping system specification.

Start by clarifying whether the application requires component‑level compliance or full system certification based on local regulations and project requirements. From there, confirm certification scope through public listings and manufacturer documentation rather than relying solely on product claims.

Early collaboration with manufacturing partners that specialize in drinking water applications can also be helpful. Manufacturers serving these markets usually build certification into design, materials, production, testing and documentation, helping reduce risk during specification and approval.

Many manufacturers also provide digital selection and configuration tools that help engineers select certified system configurations, stay within approved operating boundaries, generate accurate, project‑ready documentation and maintain traceability for submittals and life cycle records.

Engaging these resources early helps streamline project planning, avoid late‑stage redesigns and support smoother coordination with regulators, owners and commissioning teams.

Finally, engineers should consider how certification will be preserved over the system’s life cycle. Clear documentation, disciplined maintenance practices and verified replacement components all play a role in sustaining compliance long after installation.

| IMAGE 3: With drinking water systems, health and safety always come first; however, engineers must also make sure they are installing a system that delivers water reliably and at peak performance.

Compliant Solutions for Performance & Public Safety

Today’s NSF/ANSI 61-compliant pumping solutions span a wide range of municipal drinking water applications for both small and large systems. These solutions include submersible, vertical lineshaft, above-ground and packaged single- or multi-pump setups.

This range helps engineers balance performance, efficiency and ease of construction without compromising drinking water compliance. When certification is thoughtfully integrated into system selection, engineers can address application‑specific demands while maintaining confidence that public health, regulatory expectations and long‑term reliability are fully supported.

Chris Schantz is the global director of product management for vertical pumping systems at Franklin Electric, with over 26 years of experience supporting municipal and industrial water applications. For more information, visit franklin-electric.com.

In This Issue

Special Section Flow & Filtration

Cover Series Potable Water