Healthy H2O Act

Healthy H2O Act

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is taking another swing at federal funding for rural water testing and treatment with the reintroduction of the Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act. The group reintroduced the bill, commonly known as the Healthy H2O Act, which would authorize USDA grants for water testing and certified point-of-use and point-of-entry filtration systems in communities under 10,000 people. The legislation targets contamination from lead, arsenic, PFAS, and nitrates in private wells, with funding going directly to individuals, licensed childcare facilities, and nonprofits equipped to help with testing and treatment installation.

WQA is in full support of the reintroduction, with CEO Pauli Undesser emphasizing that "consulting qualified professionals and using certified point-of-use and point-of-entry filtration systems can play a crucial role in providing proven solutions." The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that in Wisconsin alone, nearly 30% of residents rely on private wells and 714 communities would benefit from the legislation (particularly relevant given that the state's $125 million PFAS trust fund remains stuck in political gridlock).

New Carbon Sanitization

Complete Water Solutions is diving deep into carbon sanitization with a technical guide that shows just how complex industrial water treatment can get. The company breaks down the essential steps for properly conditioning new granular activated carbon, starting with an 8-hour soaking period to remove air pockets, followed by backwashing cycles until water runs clear for at least 20 minutes. The team outlines two primary sanitization methods: steaming (which reaches higher temperatures and runs for 8-10 hours) and hot water sanitization (which recirculates hot water through the system for 1-3 hours for new media). The team also addresses the common issue of pH changes during startup, recommending drain-fill-soak cycles or acid adjustment in severe cases. The company is positioning itself as the expert for industrial applications, emphasizing that "new carbon installation isn't just about filling a tank—it's about ensuring system longevity and water quality from the start."

Drinking Water from Purified Sewage

The Cool Down reports on Orange County's Groundwater Replenishment System, which has been quietly perfecting the art of turning sewage into drinking water since 2008. The facility processes 130 million gallons daily through a three-step purification process (microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and UV light) that takes under an hour and has cleaned more than 464 billion gallons over its 16-year operation. Guardian reporter Katharine Gammon, who toured the facility and sampled the water, described it as "super clean, with almost a flat taste" because the cleaning process removes all salts and minerals along with contaminants. Currently, the treated water goes to underground saltwater barriers and aquifer replenishment rather than directly to taps, but California has already approved direct potable reuse as the next step. The facility serves as a model for water-scarce regions, with similar systems already operating in Israel, Kuwait, and Singapore.

Water Filter for Maine Vacation Property

Air & Water Quality is targeting a surprisingly specific niche: Maine vacation property owners who want pristine water quality to match their pristine coastal views. The company is making the case that cloudy water or off-putting tastes can ruin a vacation that's supposed to be about enjoying delicious lobster on the deck, positioning whole-home filtration as essential vacation home infrastructure. They're addressing the disconnect between Maine's reputation for natural beauty and the reality that well water can contain heavy metals and pathogens while even city-treated water often has high chlorine and sediments. The company notes that vacation home buyers look for properties with water filtration systems as a sign the home is well-maintained and has all the necessary amenities.

What else is happening:

• California lawmakers advance a bill giving water agencies immunity from chromium-6 lawsuits while they work on cleanup plans

• The Strategist tests a plastic-free, glass water filter pitcher but concludes that effective filtration still requires plastic components for removing heavy metals

• EAI Water writes a detailed guide on water softeners vs water filters, including easy-to-follow diagrams and tables on the different benefits

• H2O Systems Inc. breaks down Southwest Florida well drilling costs, ranging from $3,500 for shallow wells to $18,000+ for deep Floridian aquifer access

• Alamo Water Softeners targets pet owners with PFAS education, noting that dogs and cats are more vulnerable to forever chemicals than humans