Anion Exchange Getting Its Moment

Anion Exchange Getting Its Moment

The team at Pristine Water Softeners is making a strong case for anion exchange as the specialized solution customers need for tough contaminant problems. Pristine explains that this targeted treatment method swaps out anions (nitrates, sulfates, and arsenic) for harmless chloride ions using specialized resin beds—essentially a hot-swap for water molecules. The AZ-based company highlights their target customers: well water users dealing with agricultural runoff and commercial clients needing ultra-pure water for food processing or pharma applications. The team is pushing hard in this space, positioning themselves as the go-to solution for failing nitrate tests—a growing problem as groundwater contamination spreads. Pristine notes that the maintenance cycle creates steady income streams, and with flow rates that handle high-demand applications, they're calling it the unsung hero of targeted water treatment.

Nanofiltration Vs. Reverse Osmosis

The team at family-owned Tri-County Pumps is breaking down the age-old debate between nanofiltration and reverse osmosis for homeowners trying to choose the right water treatment system. The Virginia-based company explains the basics: nanofiltration uses 1-10 nanometer pores at lower pressure (0.5-2.5 MPa) to tackle bacteria, chemicals, and even desalination. And on the other side RO uses ultra-fine 0.0001 micron membranes at higher pressure (3-4 MPa) to deliver that coveted 99.9% purity rate. The trade-offs are real, according to their team, saying nanofiltration wins on lower maintenance headaches and operating costs, while RO dominates on pure removal power but demands higher upfront investment and energy bills. The long and short is that neither are universally better, but getting water tested is crucial to making the right system choice.

Summer Maintenance Tips for Commercial RO

Ultra Pure Water Technologies released a guide on summer maintenance tips for commercial RO systems just in time as Cincinnati temperatures climb into the 80s and 90s. The Ohio-based company explains that warmer water actually increases membrane permeability, which allows more contaminants to slip through and accelerates scaling. Ultra Pure notes that summer demand spikes from ramped-up business operations put additional strain on systems already battling biofouling from heat-loving bacteria. Their maintenance playbook focuses on aggressive pre-treatment care: checking water softener salt levels more frequently, swapping carbon filters mid-season, and monitoring feed water parameters like hawks. The company emphasizes that professional mid-summer service calls are crucial for high-capacity systems, especially in facilities where water purity is mission-critical like healthcare or food production. Ultra Pure's long-term strategy includes detailed maintenance logs, system upgrades like UV sterilizers, and contingency plans with backup water sources.

How To Properly Size a Water Softener

MVP Plumbing is breaking down the math behind proper water softener sizing for Pennsylvania homeowners, and they say the formula is pretty simple. The team uses a straightforward approach: multiply household occupants by 80 gallons (average daily usage per person), then factor in local water hardness levels. MVP notes that Narberth clocks in at 3.5-10.5 grains per gallon (moderate to hard), meaning systems need serious grain capacity before regeneration kicks in. The plumbers emphasize that flow rate is the wild card—too many fixtures running simultaneously can overwhelm undersized systems, leading to frequent regeneration cycles and salt waste. MVP warns against common sizing mistakes: oversized units reduce resin efficiency and waste money, while undersized systems become "sinkholes for salt" and burn out faster.

What else is happening:

• University at Buffalo researchers are developing a plasma treatment to remove forever chemicals from granular activated carbon (GAC) filters so they can be reused

• Quebec-based H2O Innovation announces five new leasing contracts in its mobile water treatment fleet

• Tower Water releases a guide on selecting a water treatment company in the NY/ NJ area

• EAI writes about data center water treatment, part of their ongoing campaign “The Water Industry is All Industry”

• WQA Podcast drops a new episode titled “Salt Smart: Engineering Better Water Quality”

• Dierolf Plumbing and Water Treatment asks and answers: how much arsenic do you want in your drinking water?