Latest PFAS Regulatory Landscape

The Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF) hosted a webinar on PFAS policy updates, with ERG's Steph Tatham reviewing data showing over 10% of large public water systems have PFOA/PFOS levels still requiring regulatory action. Many consumers are now learning about PFAS in their water for the first time as utilities publish required consumer confidence reports, with all initial monitoring results due by April 2027. Tatham also covered the proposed UCMR 6 rule, EPA’s possible extension of PFOA/PFOS compliance deadlines from 2029 to 2031, and the agency’s PFAS OUT outreach campaign. The practical takeaway: customer questions are coming, and “forever chemicals” are not a topic people bring up unless something has gone wrong. Tatham pointed to NSF/ANSI 53 and 58 certified filters as verified options for homeowners looking for immediate PFAS reduction.

Water Filter Guru’s Brian Campbell reviewed the AquaTru Under-Sink Gen 2 and gave it an 8.80/10, with lab testing showing TDS reduced from 695 PPM to 13 PPM and complete removal of fluoride, uranium, and total THMs. The system also earned IAPMO certification across all 84 claimed contaminants, which is the kind of detail that separates “tested” from “just believe the box” in the filtration world. Campbell highlighted the unit’s built-in leak detector, integrated filter life tracker, low annual maintenance cost, and minimal TDS creep after sitting idle. The tradeoffs: slower-than-rated filtration, mediocre water efficiency, and no remineralization unless buyers add the $25 upgrade. Overall, the review is a useful reminder that customers are comparing more than contaminant reduction now. Certification, leak protection, maintenance costs, and smart features are becoming part of the under-sink RO conversation.

Specialty Sales and Good Water Warehouse are now operating under common ownership, effective July 1, 2026.

The move brings together two long-running water treatment suppliers: Specialty Sales, established in 1970, and Good Water Warehouse, established in 1989. Together, the companies will continue serving dealers, distributors, and supplier partners with the same existing contacts, commitments, and service standards, while building a larger platform for technical support, product availability, and growth.

Darrin Shillair, President of Specialty Sales, will continue as CEO of both companies, and Ken Johnston will serve as President of both companies. Former Good Water Warehouse founder and President James Good will remain involved in a consulting role.

For customers, business continues as usual: current contacts, commitments, and service standards remain in place.

Green Living magazine used Phoenix as a case study for hard water, noting that the city’s water sits in “very hard” territory at 172-302 PPM due largely to Colorado River sourcing. WQRF research puts some numbers behind the frustration: showerheads can lose 75% of flow rate within 18 months on hard water, and every 5 grains per gallon of hardness can raise gas water heater energy costs by 4%. Hard water, it turns out, is less of a minor inconvenience and more of a slow-moving appliance tax. The article also covers the environmental tradeoff of salt-based softeners, since brine discharge adds salinity that wastewater plants cannot easily remove. That tension is driving interest in salt-free options like Template Assisted Crystallization, now testable under IAPMO/ANSI Z601 standards. The message from the article is familiar but important: whether the system is traditional or brine-free, independent testing and certification are what keep water treatment from becoming a guessing game.

Mermaid Water & Plumbing published a guide comparing electric and non-electric water softeners, with a clear lean toward non-electric systems like Kinetico. The pitch is simple: electric units rely on timers, circuit boards, and programming, while non-electric systems regenerate based on actual water use. Fewer electronics means fewer things to service, continued operation during outages, and less wasted water from unnecessary regeneration cycles. The company still notes that electric systems may appeal to homeowners who want digital controls, because buttons remain undefeated in making appliances feel smarter. But Mermaid’s bigger point is that testing should come first, since well conditions, plumbing age, and household usage can vary widely. It’s a good example of how to position a product around reliability, simplicity, and local water knowledge.