Made in America

WaterFilterGuru recently tested US Water Systems’ American Made RO, built with more than 98% American-sourced components, to see whether the performance matched the pitch. The answer? It’s complicated. The system did an excellent job removing fluoride, uranium, and trihalomethanes from challenging Colorado tap water. It also produced water relatively quickly and avoided the overnight spike in dissolved solids seen with some RO systems. But the optional remineralization cartridge introduced a new concern: the lab found aluminum, antimony, silver, and vanadium in the treated water, even though some were not detected before filtration. US Water Systems said it had not seen those results under its standard testing conditions and began investigating after WaterFilterGuru shared the data. The system also sent nearly eight gallons to the drain for every gallon of drinking water produced and currently has no third-party performance certification.

Tri-County Pumps explains how summer can expose weaknesses in a private well that were easy to miss during cooler, drier months. The team notes that heavy storms can carry animal waste, soil bacteria, and agricultural runoff toward shallow or poorly sealed wells, while drought can lower water levels and concentrate contaminants already present. Aging caps, casing gaps, and insect intrusion provide additional pathways into the system. The difficult part is that coliform bacteria and E. coli generally do not announce themselves through taste, odor, or discoloration. Testing (and not just a sniff test) is the only reliable answer. EPA recommends testing private wells annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH, and immediate testing after flooding, major land disturbance, or well repairs. If bacteria are detected, shock chlorination should be followed by another laboratory test as ongoing problems might justify properly sized and maintained UV treatment.

Silicone tubing can look straightforward until the application details arrive. In water-purification systems, pump applications, and other clean fluid paths, the curing method, size, wall thickness, temperature, fittings, pressure, and cleaning requirements can all affect the final selection.

What This Means:

Specialty Sales’ latest guide explains where silicone tubing fits, why platinum curing comes up, and which application details matter before ordering.

Read the full guide: https://specialty-sales.com/blog/silicone-tubing

For help reviewing silicone tubing, reinforced hose, or another tubing option, call Specialty Sales at 800-323-3054 or visit specialty-sales.com.

Advanced Water Solutions breaks down the choice between renting, buying, and renting-to-own a water softener for households in the LA suburbs. Local residents have a strong reason to consider treatment as the city reports average hardness of roughly 16.7 grains per gallon, firmly within the “very hard” range. Renting works best for households that want a low upfront cost and would rather leave repairs, replacement parts, and maintenance to the treatment company. The homeowner still buys the salt, and monthly payments continue as long as the system remains in place. Buying costs more initially but will generally be less expensive over the equipment’s lifetime, particularly for someone planning to remain in the home. Rent-to-own offers a middle ground: qualifying customers can apply up to 12 months of rental payments toward a purchase price established at installation. Whatever the arrangement, the equipment should be sized for the home’s measured hardness and water use and not merely the regional average.

Local news WHO 13 reports that continued concern over nitrate levels is pushing more Iowa households toward point-of-use reverse osmosis systems. The region’s finished drinking water remains below the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter, but that hasn’t ended the debate over possible health effects from long-term exposure. The issue became particularly visible after Central Iowa Water Works operated its nitrate-removal facility for a record 193 consecutive days before conditions improved enough to shut it down. Brightwater/Kinetico Des Moines told the station that its sales and installations have doubled from last year, with nitrate removal now among the most common reasons people inquire about treatment. The company is also donating RO systems to North Polk schools. WHO 13 says that while a properly selected RO system can provide an additional barrier at the drinking-water tap, buyers should confirm that the complete system is certified for nitrate reduction.