CULLIGAN POSITION STATEMENT and KEY MESSAGE POINTS Re: Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water CULLIGAN POSITION STATEMENT ______________________________________________________________________ The Associated Press, CNN, and other news agencies have reported that trace levels of pharmaceuticals have been found in certain drinking water supplies – chemicals that are currently not regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It’s important to note that contaminants may not be in every water supply and that the level of contaminants in water varies. It depends on what enters the water supply before treatment and how the supply is treated at individual water treatment facilities. Consumers cannot know exactly what contaminants are in their water without a water test1. Culligan – which has been in the business of quality water for more than 70 years – has been closely tracking this issue with customers and dealers. Culligan’s Analytical Laboratory provides customers worldwide with water quality analyses (up to 10,000 samples are tested annually) using U.S. EPA approved methods. The company is currently expanding its analytical laboratory capabilities to screen for certain pharmaceutical and additional contaminants in water. Once the water sample is tested to determine the type and level of contaminants, Culligan offers homeowners multiple state-of-the-art water treatment options to accommodate their local water conditions. According the Water Quality Association (www.wqa.org) in a fact sheet issued 3/11/08 on “Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water,” home filtering systems provide the best protection for drinking water. (See attached report). Culligan’s reverse osmosis (RO) filtration technology is effective at getting out over 80 percent of certain pharmaceuticals. Residents concerned about their local water supply should contact their local Culligan dealer for a professional analysis and consultation on the appropriate water filtration solution. Culligan’s regional water experts know the conditions of their local water supply intimately and can offer the best recommendations. For a dealer near you, call 1-800-Culligan or visitwww.culligan.com. 1. Culligan – which has been in the business of quality water for more than 70 years – has been closely tracking this issue with customers and dealers. Culligan’s Analytical Laboratory provides customers worldwide with water quality analyses (up to 10,000 samples are tested annually) using U.S. EPA approved methods. The company is currently expanding its analytical laboratory capabilities to screen for certain pharmaceutical and additional contaminants in water. Once the water sample is tested to determine the type and level of contaminants, Culligan offers homeowners multiple state-of-the-art water treatment options to accommodate their local water conditions. According the Water Quality Association (www.wqa.org) in a fact sheet issued 3/11/08 on “Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water,” home filtering systems provide the best protection for drinking water. (See attached report). Culligan’s reverse osmosis (RO) filtration technology is effective at getting out over 80 percent of certain pharmaceuticals. Residents concerned about their local water supply should contact their local Culligan dealer for a professional analysis and consultation on the appropriate water filtration solution. Culligan’s regional water experts know the conditions of their local water supply intimately and can offer the best recommendations. For a dealer near you, call 1-800-Culligan or visitwww.culligan.com. www.wqa.org) in a fact sheet issued 3/11/08 on “Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water,” home filtering systems provide the best protection for drinking water. (See attached report). Culligan’s reverse osmosis (RO) filtration technology is effective at getting out over 80 percent of certain pharmaceuticals. Residents concerned about their local water supply should contact their local Culligan dealer for a professional analysis and consultation on the appropriate water filtration solution. Culligan’s regional water experts know the conditions of their local water supply intimately and can offer the best recommendations. For a dealer near you, call 1-800-Culligan or visitwww.culligan.com. www.culligan.com . CULLIGAN KEY MESSAGE POINTS ______________________________________________________________________ The Issue • The Associated Press, CNN, and other news agencies have reported that trace levels of pharmaceuticals have been found in certain drinking water supplies. Culligan has been closely tracking this issue with our customers and dealers. • It’s important to note that contaminants may not be in every water supply and that the level of contaminants in water varies. It depends on what enters the water supply before treatment and how the supply is treated at water treatment facilities. • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not currently regulate pharmaceutical chemicals in drinking water. - The EPA regulates specific microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals and organic chemicals. - The organic chemicals regulated by the EPA are typically byproducts of herbicides, pesticides and chemical manufacturing processes – not pharmaceuticals. The Importance of Testing • Consumers cannot know exactly what contaminants are in their water without a water test1. • Culligan has been dedicated to quality water for all of its customers for more than 70 years. • Culligan’s Analytical Laboratory provides customers worldwide with quality water analyses (up to 10,000 samples are tested annually) using U.S. EPA approved methods. • Culligan is currently expanding its analytical laboratory capabilities to screen for certain pharmaceutical and additional contaminants in water. • Once the water sample is tested to determine the type and level of contaminants, the appropriate home water treatment solution can be determined. 1. • Culligan has been dedicated to quality water for all of its customers for more than 70 years. • Culligan’s Analytical Laboratory provides customers worldwide with quality water analyses (up to 10,000 samples are tested annually) using U.S. EPA approved methods. • Culligan is currently expanding its analytical laboratory capabilities to screen for certain pharmaceutical and additional contaminants in water. • Once the water sample is tested to determine the type and level of contaminants, the appropriate home water treatment solution can be determined. Culligan Solutions • According the Water Quality Association in a fact sheet issued 3/11/08 on “Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water,” home filtering systems provide the best protection for drinking water. (See attached report) • Culligan offers homeowners multiple state-of-the-art water treatment options to address their local water conditions and lifestyle needs. - A simple sediment and carbon filter reduces particles, tastes and odors. - Reverse osmosis technology reduces many substances in water such as: calcium, magnesium, sodium, barium, sulfates, chloride, and silica. It also reduces trace metals such as: chromium, copper, cadmium, lead, and selenium. - Culligan’s reverse osmosis (RO) filtration technology is effective at getting out over 80 percent of certain pharmaceuticals. - Historically, reverse osmosis has been shown to effectively reduce chemical compounds with molecular weights over 250. Since pharmaceuticals are generally very large molecules, reverse osmosis is able to substantially reduce this class of compounds. - Other filters are specifically designed to reduce certain contaminants such as: lead, mercury, volatile organic compounds, cysts and chloramines. • Ultimately, selecting the right product depends on what substances our homeowners want removed from their drinking water. What Consumers Can Do • Residents concerned about their local water supply should contact their local Culligan dealer for a professional analysis and consultation on the appropriate water treatment solution. • With Culligan, you can trust the water experts who are dedicated to better water, pure and simple.TM TM • Our regional water experts know the conditions of their local water supply intimately and can offer the best recommendations. • For a dealer near you, call 1-800-Culligan or visitwww.culligan.com. www.culligan.com. 1Contaminates may not be in your water. Contaminates may not be in your water. About Culligan For more than 70 years,Culliganhas been recognized as the world leading innovator and provider of filtration systems to improve general use and drinking water in the home and workplace. Headquartered in the Chicago area, Culligan maintains offices in 12 countries, dealers and licensees in over 70 countries, and a network of 700+ franchise and company-owned dealers across North America. Culligan offers the most extensive water treatment product line in the world, and its solutions have been awarded the Good Housekeeping Seal, highlighted as a Consumers Digest “Best Buy” and featured on the “Designing Spaces” national television show. All media inquiries should be directed to: Jennifer K. Griffin Manager, Marketing Communications T: 1-847-430-1290 E: jennifer.griffin@culligan.com Culligan has been recognized as the world leading innovator and provider of filtration systems to improve general use and drinking water in the home and workplace. Headquartered in the Chicago area, Culligan maintains offices in 12 countries, dealers and licensees in over 70 countries, and a network of 700+ franchise and company-owned dealers across North America. Culligan offers the most extensive water treatment product line in the world, and its solutions have been awarded the Good Housekeeping Seal, highlighted as a Consumers Digest “Best Buy” and featured on the “Designing Spaces” national television show. All media inquiries should be directed to: Jennifer K. Griffin Manager, Marketing Communications T: 1-847-430-1290 E: jennifer.griffin@culligan.com
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