Glyphosate Executive Order

Glyphosate Executive Order

SpringWell covers the drinking water implications of a February executive order, which directs the U.S. to ramp up domestic glyphosate production to protect agricultural supply. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is already the most widely used herbicide in the country, with nearly 300 million pounds applied annually, and it's been detected in 94% of U.S. streams and rivers. Health advocates are concerned that increased production means increased runoff into drinking water sources, and the research behind those concerns supports it: studies have linked glyphosate exposure to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, neurological disorders including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, endocrine disruption, and gut microbiome changes. The EPA's current MCL for glyphosate is 700 ppb (one of the more permissive limits on the books) and because the chemical has no taste, odor, or color, testing is the only way to know it's there. SpringWell recommends RO and activated carbon filtration as the two most effective removal methods.

High Schooler’s Microplastic Filter

Smithsonian Magazine profiles Mia Heller, an 18-year-old from Warrington, Virginia who built a membrane-free microplastic filter in her garage after watching her mother constantly replace filter membranes in the family's home system. Her solution uses ferrofluid, a type of magnetic oil, that binds to microplastic particles as water flows through the system. This allows a magnetic field to pull the plastics out and then recover and reuse the ferrofluid in a closed loop. The prototype, roughly the size of a bag of flour, removed 95.52% of microplastics in testing and recycled 87% of the ferrofluid. The removal rate is comparable to or better than traditional water treatment plants, which remove 70-90%. The membrane-free design is the key breakthrough: no membranes means significantly lower maintenance and replacement costs. The system is currently sized for individual home use (about one liter at a time), since ferrofluid remains expensive to produce at scale. Heller was a finalist at the 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and says she'd eventually like to bring it to market.

Immunocompromised

Dierolf Plumbing and Water Treatment makes the case for why standard municipal water isn't always enough for households with immunocompromised members. The team explains that public water systems are designed around safety thresholds for healthy adults, but not for people undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, or those on immunosuppressant medications. For those people, even trace levels of microorganisms can cause serious illness. The main culprits are Cryptosporidium and Giardia, two parasites that can survive standard chlorine disinfection, plus bacteria like Legionella and E. coli that can enter water through aging plumbing or biofilm growth. The guide walks through three filtration technologies by level of protection: microfiltration (0.1 micron, removes parasites and sediment), ultrafiltration (0.01 micron, adds bacteria and some virus removal), and reverse osmosis (the most comprehensive option, removing parasites, bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, PFAS, and pesticides).

Preparing for Temperature Swings

Aqua Science, an Arizona-based water treatment and plumbing company, breaks down how the state's extreme climate puts unusual stress on residential water systems year-round. Most homeowners think of Arizona as a heat problem, but the guide covers three distinct seasonal threats. Summer brings UV degradation to outdoor PVC and PEX piping, thermal expansion pressure buildup, and heat stress on expansion tanks. Winter, while short, brings freeze risk to hose bibs, irrigation lines, and pipes in unheated garages, particularly in higher elevations. Monsoon season introduces heavy sediment loads that clog aerators and appliance filters, plus pressure surges from sudden spikes in municipal demand during storms. The practical takeaways are: UV-resistant coatings on exposed outdoor pipe, foam insulation on exterior lines, pressure-reducing valves for monsoon season, and a monthly inspection routine covering leak checks, water heater sediment, and pressure testing.

What else is happening:

• Water professionals from the WateReuse Association joined industry partners in Washington, DC, for a presentation about PFAS

• WQA Podcast drops a new episode about how systems serving schools, campgrounds, and mobile home parks create pathways for recurring revenue

• Ampac USA releases a technical engineering guide on how to size a commercial reverse osmosis system

• Lifestyle blogger BoredMom reviews (and promotes) the Cloud RO water filter system