# Water treatment chemicals: Regulation

How drinking water rules set what chemicals are allowed

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/regulation/

What this tab covers How it is regulated and what could disrupt supply: hazard classification, rules in the EU, US and India, anti-dumping duties and other trade measures, and supply-risk notes.

#### Hazards

| Classification | UN number | Key risks |
|---|---|---|
| varies: ferric chloride and PAC corrosive (skin corrosion, eye damage); hypochlorite corrosive and aquatic toxic; acrylamide monomer carcinogen cat 1B | UN2582 (ferric chloride), UN1791 (hypochlorite) | Corrosive spills, chlorine gas release if hypochlorite meets acid, and residual acrylamide monomer in polymers used for drinking water. |

#### Main rules

| Where | Rule | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| **EU** | Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184 (acrylamide limit 0.10 µg/l); Biocidal Products Regulation 528/2012; EN standards for drinking water chemicals (e.g. EN 878 aluminium sulphate, EN 888 ferric chloride) | Limits polymer monomer content and the number of approved biocides. |
| **US** | NSF/ANSI/CAN 60 certification for drinking water chemicals; EPA PFAS drinking water rule (2024); FIFRA registration for biocides | Certification is a barrier to entry; PFAS rule shifts spending to carbon and resins. |
| **Global** | Phosphorus discharge limits | Raise coagulant use at sewage plants and push phosphorus-free inhibitors. |

#### India

| Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| **BIS IS 10500 drinking water specification; BIS product standards for alum and PAC** | Sets residual aluminium and quality limits for municipal supply. |
| **CPCB and state pollution control board effluent norms and zero liquid discharge conditions for textiles, distilleries and pharma (indicative)** | Drives demand for treatment chemicals and evaporator programmes. |
| **Insecticides Act 1968 registration for some biocide uses (indicative)** | Slows new biocide approvals. |

#### Trade measures

- No current DGTR anti-dumping duty on water treatment chemicals was found in sources reached

#### Supply risk

Low for coagulants, which can be made almost anywhere from aluminium, iron and acid. Moderate for polyacrylamide and phosphonates, where China is a large exporter. Chlorine supply disruptions can hit disinfection and ferric chloride.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/movement/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/water_treatment/links/index.md)