It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following in connection with the sale, lease, rental, offer to sell, lease, rent, or other disposition of water treatment devices:
(a) Make any untrue or misleading oral or written statements regarding the presence of one or more contaminants in water, or the performance of water treatment devices, including, but not limited to, the following oral or written statements:
(1) (A) Any contaminant exists in the water of any person to whom the statement is directed unless the statement is true, is reasonably based on factual data, and at least a written summary of the factual data, that has been prepared or approved by the source of the factual data, is disclosed to the person to whom the statement is directed before that person executes any contract for the purchase, lease, or rental of a water treatment device.
(B) Any contaminant may exist in the water of any person to whom the statement is directed unless the statement is true and is reasonably based on factual data.
(2) A relationship between water quality and acute or chronic illness exists as a scientific certainty unless that statement is true.
(3) The public water system, utility, or treatment plant that supplies water to the person to whom the statement is directed does not test, treat, or remove particular substances from water treated by it unless the statement is true.
(4) A water treatment device removes particular contaminants or other substances from water unless the statement is true, is reasonably based on factual data in existence at the time the statement is made, and the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) are satisfied.
(A) If the particular contaminants or other substances mentioned in the statement described in paragraph (4) are not necessarily in the water of the person to whom the statement is made, the following disclosure or its equivalent must be clearly and conspicuously made: “The contaminants or other substances removed or reduced by this water treatment device are not necessarily in your water.”
(B) If the statement described in paragraph (4) is oral, the disclosure described in subparagraph (A) shall be made orally and shall immediately follow the statement. If the statement is in writing, the disclosure shall be in writing and shall be placed immediately next to the written statement.
(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), no statement about the ability of a water treatment device to remove particular contaminants or other substances shall be used to imply falsely that any of those contaminants or other substances are present in the water of the person to whom the statement is made.
(5) Use news events, reports, or descriptions of water quality problems or health hazards associated with water systems or suppliers different from the systems or suppliers of the intended consumer unless, at the same time, the seller sets forth conspicuously and prominently a statement, if true, that the seller has no information that the intended consumer’s water supply has the water quality problems or health hazards referred to in the news events, reports, or descriptions.
(6) A water treatment device would provide a health benefit or diminish a health risk unless it would do so.
(7) A water treatment device will solve or contribute to the solution of any problem unless the statement is true.
(b) Perform precipitation tests of the individual consumer’s drinking water without also clearly informing the consumer of the results, scope, and limits of the test. Precipitation tests may only be used to demonstrate the hardness or other nonhealth-related characteristics of the water being tested.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), make product performance claims or product benefit claims that the device affects the health or the safety of drinking water, unless the device complies with Article 3 (commencing with Section 116825) of Chapter 5 of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code. This subdivision does not apply to the making of truthful and nonmisleading claims regarding the removal or reduction of contaminants not associated with a health or safety claim pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 116825) of Chapter 5 of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.
(d) Use pictures, exhibits, graphs, charts, other graphic portrayals, endorsements, or testimonials in any untrue or misleading manner.
(e) Fail to disclose clearly and conspicuously, in writing, to the purchaser, lessee, or renter, prior to the time of purchase, lease, or rent, the importance of maintaining the water treatment device according to the manufacturer’s instructions, including, if applicable, replacement of screens and filters. In addition, a separate printed gummed label, tag, or other convenient form of reminder of the importance of proper maintenance shall be provided to the purchaser, lessee, or renter.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 403, Sec. 1. (AB 119) Effective January 1, 2014.)