Homeland Security Research

Research Highlights

Point-of-Use/Point-of-Entry Treatment Devices

Point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) water treatment devices are cited in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Security Research and Technical Support Action Plan as a topic requiring further research. POU devices are designed to purify only that portion of incoming water that is being used for drinking and cooking purposes, while POE devices treat all the water coming into a house or facility. What are the capabilities of these devices for treating or capturing the most likely contaminants? How should such devices be disposed of if they become contaminated? This paper investigates the use of these devices as a potential strategy for addressing water security concerns.

Study Objectives

The first objective of this study was to conduct a literature review regarding the types of devices and technologies currently available for removing contaminants at the point of use and/or at the point of entry. The most promising technologies and combinations of technologies (e.g., treatment trains) were investigated with regard to their principle of operation; effectiveness for removing radiological, biological, or chemical contaminants; and limitations. Of particular interest was a determination of a device’s efficacy in preventing exposure to biological agents.

The second objective was to examine the potential water security role of POU/POE treatment devices. To fulfill this objective, different implementation strategies and their ramifications were discussed; issues associated with disposal and residuals management were addressed; and costs, benefits, and limitations from a water security perspective were described.

Drawing on the results of the first two objectives, the third objective was to offer a set of recommendations for consideration regarding POU/POE treatment and water security. The results of this effort were to help identify the best preventive measures, treatment alternatives, and post-treatment disposal options regarding the intentional contamination of drinking water.

Available Technologies

This review produced a comparative study showing the types of devices that are currently available, the principles of operation, the types of contaminants that can effectively be removed and those that cannot, removal efficiencies, and the anticipated service life. The two most widely used POU devices are a faucet-mounted device and a pitcher-style filter. The former is composed of activated carbon in solid block configuration with 1-micrometer pore space plus an activated agent to remove lead; the latter uses a sieve filter, granular activated carbon (GAC), and ion exchange resin in sequence. POU and POE treatment devices can be used to meet drinking water standards, but this use is constrained by EPA guidance, third-party certification by the NSF International (formerly the National Sanitation Foundation), standards developed by the American National Standards Institute, and federal regulations.

See Also
Investigation of the Capability of Point-of-Use/Point-of-Entry Treatment Devices as a Means of Providing Water Security (EPA/600/R-06/012) February 2006

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