EPA Proposes Perchlorate Rules

EPA Proposes Perchlorate Rules

Last week, the EPA proposed a rule requiring monitoring and treatment for perchlorate (a contaminant from both natural sources and industrial uses) in public water systems. If passed, this would potentially create new market opportunities for reverse osmosis and ion exchange despite EPA's own analysis showing costs don't justify benefits. The regulation stems from a 2023 court decision forcing EPA to regulate perchlorate even though the agency believes the chemical doesn't occur at concerning levels in most systems. The rule identifies proven removal methods like ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and biological treatment for larger systems, plus certified point-of-use RO units for small systems. The EPA is proposing maximum levels of 20, 40, or 80 parts per billion.

PFAS in Private Wells

Inside Climate News released a detailed report on “Michigan’s Other Water Crisis” showing how even states leading on municipal water PFAS testing struggle with private well contamination. The story follows Sandy Wynn-Stelt, whose Kent County well tested at 24,000-100,000 parts per trillion PFAS from old Wolverine World Wide tannery waste dumping, far exceeding federal limits of 4-10 ppt set in 2024. Michigan became the first state to test all public water supplies for PFAS after the Flint crisis, but 2.6 million residents using private wells are largely on their own for testing and treatment.

The state offers well water testing for $290 per sample and provides filtration recommendations, but only 20-40% of property owners respond to state letters urging them to test their wells. Cost barriers are significant since proper filtration systems typically cost several thousand dollars, with solutions including granular activated carbon or reverse osmosis systems.

Training is Emergency Prevention

Complete Water Solutions published a blog post showing how operator education reduces costly service calls, demonstrating a smart strategy to build long-term customer relationships while reducing their own emergency response burden. Nathan Olszak, the company owner with 30+ years experience, explains that untrained operators often turn small issues into major failures through missed maintenance, misunderstood alarms, or simple operational errors that shut down production lines. The company offers customized training tailored to specific equipment and industries, providing on-site sessions, classroom instruction, and online learning to accommodate different facility needs. Their approach positions training as an investment with measurable returns rather than just an operational expense.

Where to Buy Replacement Filters

Long Island Clean Water wrote a guide positioning themselves as the trusted source for genuine EcoWater replacement filters while warning against third-party alternatives. The company explains that EcoWater systems require model-specific filters engineered to exact tolerances, with unauthorized sellers offering poor-fitting filters that can cause leaks and system strain. The New York dealer connects filter timing to local water conditions, noting that Long Island's water characteristics vary significantly by neighborhood, affecting filter lifespan and replacement needs. The team positions professional service as offering more value than simple filter swaps through system inspections and performance checks.

What else is happening:

• Hydrogen water startup Echo Water launched the Echo One, which integrates a multi-stage RO process, UV sanitization, and a hydrogen infusion system

• Water Filter Guru reviewed the Tubo Bath Filter which is “designed to make bathwater safer and gentler for babies and young children”

• WQA Podcast drops a new episode on 2026 Contaminant Predictions, one of their most popular annual episodes

• Wisconsin-based Diamond H2O joined local news Fox 11 Living to talk about their water products and water testing options (4 min. watch)

• Engineer Fix did a basic breakdown of who makes the best water softener covering Kinetico, Culligan, and retail brands.