Passion Meets Profession

Passion Meets Profession

AquiSense engineer Andrea Martinez shares a personal story that shows how water treatment technology can solve problems beyond typical residential applications. Martinez talks about her journey from growing up in Venezuela where water scarcity was a daily reality, to studying environmental engineering at LSU, to earning a master's degree focused on UV-C LED water disinfection technology. Her career path led her to AquiSense, where she's been working for nearly two years on projects ranging from NASA collaborations to pharmaceutical applications. 

The story gets personal when Martinez describes how severe droughts in her hometown in Colombia led to citywide water rationing, forcing families like hers to rely on storage tanks that create perfect conditions for pathogen growth. Martinez brought an AquiSense PearlAqua Deca 24C4 system home for Christmas and worked with her uncle to retrofit it into their existing water storage system, providing chemical-free disinfection for the entire household. Her story highlights the advantages of UV-C LED like effective pathogen inactivation without chemicals or complex infrastructure, making it ideal for off-grid and underserved communities.

Changing Cities

HQ Water Solutions is making a move that could serve as the playbook for how to expand local market presence and community impact. The company relocated from Manheim, PA to a new facility in Lancaster City, a city with nearly 10x the population. Co-owner Stephen Evangelista is positioning the move as more than just a new address and that it's about expanding their reach to serve even more families and businesses. The expansion allows HQ to grow their team and create jobs while investing in the local economy, but their real differentiator seems to be their community engagement strategy. The company plans to offer educational workshops on water quality, collaborate on clean water access projects for those in need, and partner with local organizations for broader community impact. HQ provides the full spectrum of services including water testing, softening, whole-house filtration, reverse osmosis, and PFAS treatment.

Small Valves, Big Solutions (Sponsored)

Need to stop or split flow in tight spots? Specialty Sales LLC & AM Products has the miniature ball valves and specialty shutoffs that water treatment professionals rely on for DI tanks, portable exchange carts, beverage systems, RO lines, and more.

Whether you're dealing with water, air, or mild chemicals, they stock compact, reliable valves that fit right in (and without getting in the way).

What Their Customers Love:

• 🔧 Plastic Mini Ball Valves: Great for DI water and chemical resistance

• 💪 Brass & Stainless Mini Valves: Rugged options for long-term performance

• ⚡ Push-to-Connect & Angle-Stop Styles: Quick installs with no tools required

• 📏 Hard-to-Find Sizes: 1/8" to 1", including thread and barbed options

Need help matching one to your setup? Contact their team by clicking here or reply to this email and we'll get you connected directly.

What Happens During a Free Water Test

Dierolf Plumbing and Water Treatment is using education to remove the mystery (and sales resistance) around free water testing with a step-by-step guide that shows they are transparent and customer-focused. The 30-year-old company breaks down exactly what happens during their 30-60 minute appointments, from initial discussion of customer concerns to on-site testing for hardness, pH, iron, TDS, and more using handheld meters that provide immediate results. Dierolf addresses common customer hesitations by emphasizing the process is "pressure-free" and includes a plumbing system assessment to identify existing issues. The company talks about the difference between on-site testing and lab testing, recommending certified lab analysis for home sales, private wells, health concerns, or major system installations while being upfront about lab fees with no surprise charges.

Filtering Out Misconceptions

Alamo Water Softeners recently posted a myth-busting article that addresses six common misconceptions that can derail sales conversations. The Texas-based company debunks beliefs like "if water meets government standards, it's safe enough" by noting that EPA limits are minimums, not guarantees, and that things like PFAS, chlorine byproducts, and lead can still cause long-term health concerns. They work through the “all filters work the same" myth by explaining how reverse osmosis systems excel at removing dissolved solids and PFAS but may need remineralizers, while activated carbon filters improve taste and remove chlorine but won't handle heavy metals. Alamo also addresses cost concerns by positioning filtration as an investment that pays for itself through bottled water savings and appliance protection, while clarifying that maintenance is simpler than people assume with modern alert systems.

What else is happening:

• Researchers have developed a sunlight-activated material that can degrade PFAS in water, breaking down the pollutant into harmless components

• WCP Online profiles Cody Brewer, their August Young Professional of the Month, and his journey to sales manager for Jacobi Carbons in Columbus, Ohio

• WQA Podcast drops an episode all about Partnering with Public Water Systems

• In a recent promo piece, Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling is recognized as a top water softener service in Fort Wayne, IN

• Family-owned and operated Pure Water Technology explains why customers should rent from them