Consumer reminder: WQA does not sell products or use scare tactics
LISLE, Ill. – The Water Quality Association is calling attention to door-to-door solicitations in Aurora, Ill., in which residents were falsely told the WQA would test their home’s water for contaminants and then would suggest a local water treatment provider who could install any needed treatment solutions. The printed phone number on the flyer left at homes apparently has been used for similar scams in other states.
“The Water Quality Association is a trade association, does not itself sell water treatment products or services, and does not solicit door-to-door,” said WQA Chief Executive Officer Pauli Undesser, MWS. “WQA has a strict code of ethics for our members, including manufacturers of water treatment products and those who install, maintain and service treatment products. They don’t use scare tactics or sham selling techniques to generate business.”
Even so, WQA continues to hear reports from around the country about people falsely claiming to represent WQA; misrepresenting themselves to offer “free” water tests that then lead to sales of water treatment systems; or participating in predatory lending activities. WQA is vigilant about investigating and shutting down such practices whenever possible.
This spring in Illinois, residents found a door hanger with a message in Spanish and English urging them to call for “water info.” The printed materials did not contain WQA’s name or logo but did provide a toll-free number for an unidentified private company with no WQA affiliation. Workers answering the calls falsely stated the Water Quality Association was conducting the testing.
WQA operates the Gold Seal Product Certification Program and Laboratory for the evaluation, testing and certification of water treatment technologies. It does not provide testing services directly to consumers and does not solicit door-to-door or over the telephone.
WQA recommends homeowners have their water tested by a certified lab or using a trusted water treatment professional. WQA members in your area can be found using WQA’s Find-A-Member tool. The Association offers suggestions for finding reputable water treatment professionals on its website.
In addition, WQA recommends treatment products that have been certified by an independent third party to work as claimed. Consumers can visit WQA’s product certification listings to search WQA’s database of certified products.
WQA is marking 50 years (1974-2024) as a not-for-profit trade association representing the residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment industry. WQA’s education and professional certification programs have been providing industry-standardized training and credentialing since 1977. The WQA Gold Seal certification program has been certifying products that contribute to the safe consumption of water since 1959. The WQA Gold Seal program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). WQA publishes a consumer-friendly website, BetterWaterToday.org.
wqa.org
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