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Residential Water Treatment Devices

Information for Manufacturers

Frequently Asked Questions

• Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)

RWTD Portal Quick Start Guide

This Quick Start Guide covers account registration, navigation of the Manufacturers section, submitting a registration application, and making a registration payment.

RWTD Portal Video Tutorials

Below are seven video tutorials that cover the basic functions of the RWTD Portal.  NOTE: these videos are hosted on YouTube.

1. Registering an Account
2. Navigating the Manufacturers Section
3. Adding a Water Treatment Device to the Manufacturers Section
4. Submitting a Water Treatment Device Registration Application
5. Abandoning an Application
6. Deactivating a Device
7. Making a Registration Payment

Registration Renewals for Calendar Year 2025

The registration renewal for calendar year 2025 is now open. SWRCB staff will process the applications in the order they are received. Please ensure all devices you plan to renew are included on one application and submitted no later than January 31, 2025.  If a device you plan to renew is included on an application received after January 31, 2025, these devices will be dropped from our list of registered devices and will not be added back until the application is accepted and payment is received and processed.

Requirements for New Registration

Registration of new devices through the RWTD Portal requires the same information as the previous paper application.  To assist you in submitting your application, please have the following information ready:

• Information contained in the Application for Registration (FOR REFERENCE ONLY).
• A direct website link to the device’s certification listing on the ANSI-accredited certifying organization’s website.  If your device has multiple certifications, please provide the most relevant listing (such as the NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 listing) and SWRCB staff will find any other listings.
• A direct website link to, or an electronic copy (in PDF, ZIP, or Microsoft Word DOC format) of, the Performance Data Sheet (PDS). The PDS must include the following information:
• The name, address, telephone number, and website (if any) of the device manufacturer. This is meant to be contact information for use by the consumer.
• The name, address, and telephone number of a designated contact person for the manufacturer.
• The name and model number of the water treatment device, and any other product identification used by the manufacturer to describe the water treatment device or treatment component.
• Each specific contaminant claimed to be removed or reduced by the device.
• The name of the ANSI-accredited certifying organization that has certified the device to verify its removal or reduction performance, a summary of the laboratory’s test results, the date of the test, and the date by which the device must be retested for verification of the removal or reduction performance.
• The rated service flow (in gallons per minute or gallons per day) or the daily production rate (in gallons per day).
• The rated capacity/service life of the water treatment device (in gallons), if applicable.
• The general use conditions and needs of the device, including, but not limited to, its maximum turbidity and the bacteriological quality of source water. Disclaimers on source water limitations, as well as other disclaimers on specific contaminants such as Arsenic, should be included as appropriate.
• The model or part number of components that must be periodically or routinely replaced to maintain the effectiveness of the device.
• The maximum and minimum operating temperature of the device in degrees Fahrenheit and degrees Centigrade.
• The maximum and minimum operating pressure of the device in pounds per square inch and kilograms per square centimeter.
• The reference to the device's owner’s manual for general operation and maintenance requirements and the manufacturer's warranty. May also include a link to the manual, if posted online.

Once an application is received, SWRCB staff will review these documents to ensure that they are free from excessively small font sizes and that important use conditions are clearly stated. We expect that the manufacturer or certifying organization will ensure that the Performance Data Sheets and other product literature are appropriately sized for consumer use as part of their certification process. As additional information, please note that Federal Guidelines stipulate that consumer product literature be not less than 1/16th of an inch in height.

Note regarding NSF Protocol P231 (microbiological purifiers): we will accept applications for registration of models that are certified by an ANSI-accredited certification organization under NSF Protocol P231. Such applications are required to include a copy of the product-specific test plan that was utilized in testing the model under P231.

Regarding "Fits" Claims: under the current registration program, we do not have a standard policy on such statements. This issue should be discussed with your certifying organization. As always, any claim to reduce a health-related contaminant requires certification and that the product be registered in California.

Information on Product Labeling Requirements

Effective July 1, 2015 California law pertaining to water treatment devices includes two new requirements for product labeling and packaging.

• Requirement for Exterior Packaging (HSC Section 116835(b))
• Requirement for Decal (Label) Affixed to Device (HSC Section 116835(c))

Additional information on these requirements is below:

• A permanent label in lieu of the decal is acceptable. The label may be placed onto the product by the manufacturer or included so that it may be placed by the consumer. The label must be of a placement and font size/color such that it is legible to the consumer (i.e., font should not be excessively small).
• Include information within the owner's manual alerting the consumer to the need for proper maintenance and operation. The addition of this language to the product manual may be made during the next product recertification cycle. Manufacturers may choose the exact wording for this notice. The language should include the following verbiage or equivalent from the statute: "If this device is not maintained and operated as specified in the owner's manual, there is a risk of exposure to contaminants".
• For some products with very little surface area, the manufacturer may be concerned that the decal will be too small to be legible. In that case, the manufacturer may choose an alternative means of meeting the intent of this requirement. Options may include a hang tag, including the statement on the cartridge, or allowing the customer to affix the label to the wall, refrigerator or other surface that the consumer may select.
• The label / decal must include the basic language specified in the statute but refer to the website of the State Water Resources Control Board as follows:
  Please refer to the owner’s manual for proper maintenance and operation. If this device is not maintained and operated as specified in the owner’s manual, there is a risk of exposure to contaminants. For more information, visit the manufacturer’s Internet Web site at Manufacturer’s Internet Web Site or the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Internet Web site at www.waterboards.ca.gov.

California Residential Water Treatment Devices Registration Program is to register only devices which are designed for treating residential drinking water.

Devices certified only for the material/structural integrity including lead content in the drinking water system’s components are not considered eligible for our registration program pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 116825 and 116832.

For devices certified only for aesthetic effects, such as chlorine, taste, and odor reduction (without any primary contaminant reduction claim(s)) California registration is optional. The manufacturer may choose to apply for California registration for such devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information about residential water treatment devices, please contact us at:

Residential Water Treatment Device Registration Program
Division of Drinking Water
State Water Resources Control Board
P.O. Box 100
Sacramento, CA 95812-0100
(916) 323-0372
WTDevices@waterboards.ca.gov