​Please find below for every WQRF-funded project the full scientific reports, executive summaries, and other supporting educational materials available. Please note, the full scientific reports are free for WQA members, please contact Foundation@wqrf.org to inquire about access to these reports.

2020 Contaminant Occurrence Study and Map

The Contaminant Occurrence Map contains water quality data over the last 10 years for 57 different drinking water analytes in the United States
Interactive Mapping Tool  l  Summary Presentation
Contaminant Level Occurrence Above the MCLG: Executive Summary, Full Report (Members)
Aesthetics Level Occurrence Study: Executive Summary, Full Report (Members)

Boil Water Notices in the United States, 2012-2014

The first comprehensive database of the cause for boil water notices (BWN) issued by public water systems in the U.S.
WQA Knowledge Base 
Executive Summary 
Toolkit 
Full Report (Members)

2017 WQRF Grant Program: "Household POU Filters: Tools for Long-term, Large Volume Monitoring of Tap Water Quality and Human Health Risks"

​This study demonstrated a proof of concept using point-of-use filters as a method for monitoring tap water quality over long time periods in lieu of grab-samples.
Executive Summary  l  Full Report (Members)

Cost Benefits of Point-of-Use Devices in Reduction
​ of Health Risks

Calculated the associated healthcare and other disease burden costs from illness caused by contaminants in drinking water compared to cost of implementation of point-of-use water treatment devices, including a case study of Flint, MI.  
​Executive Summary  l  Full Report (Members)
Journal of Water and Health Publication
Environmental Research Publication

Reduction of Effluent Chloride to
​Wastewater Treatment Plants

Study compared the chloride discharge to controls for neighborhoods that optimized existing water softeners and neighborhoods that replaced equipment with high-efficiency rated systems.
Final Report  l  WQA Knowledge Base
Electronic Toolkit

Peak Water Demand Study

Data co-funding effort resulted in a statistically based probability model that would predict the peak water demand for single and multi-family dwellings having water-conserving plumbing fixtures.
​Executive Summary

Counterfeit Refrigerator Filter Study

The purpose of the study was to investigate if counterfeit filters illegally using a manufacturer’s logo passed testing requirements of certification claimed made.
Full Report

National "Deep Dive" Consumer Water Quality Study

The objectives of this study were to gather information that would help focus the scope of future WQRF research and to educate consumers on point-of-use and point-of-entry technologies.
Executive Summary

Water Softener Effects on Septic System Performance

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect home ion-exchange water softeners may have on the performance of onsite septic tanks. 
Executive Summary  l  Full Report (Members)
Toolkit

Chloroform Surrogate Study

Laid the ground work in NSF/ANSI standards for carbon filter manufacturers to test effectiveness for chloroform and claim effectiveness for 53 regulated synthetic organic chemicals.
Full Report (Members)

Softened Water Benefits Studies

Executive Summary  l  Two-page Summary of the studies

Energy Saving Study Conducted by
​Battelle Memorial Institute

Focused on efficiency improvements in household water heaters from the use of softened water, and the subsequent effect on performance of fixtures. 
Full Report (Members)

Dishwasher Study Conducted by
​Scientific Services S/D, Inc. 

Quantified the relative effects of hardness and detergent dosage to show savings possible by softening hard water.
Full Report (Members)

Laundry Study Conducted by
​Scientific Services S/D, inc. 

Compared the effects of detergent dose, water hardness and wash temperature on the stain removal performance of five household laundry detergents. 
​Full Report (Members)

Leaching of Metals from Household Plumbing Materials: Study of the Impact of Home Water Softeners

The results demonstrated that there is no link between softened water and corrosion. This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Study, funded by WQRF, provided scientific support that ion exchange water softening does not affect the corrosivity of water.

Septic Tank/Water Softener Studies

This 1978 research report combines the scientific data from several studies to evaluate potential effects of water softeners on septic systems.
Full Report (Members)

Water Softeners as Energy Conserving Investments

The purpose of this study was to measure and quantify differences in energy consumption of household water heaters installed and operated on hard versus softened water supplies.
Executive Summary