Rural Solutions

Rural Solutions

Cornell's VersaWater received $5 million from the National Science Foundation to develop "utility-in-a-box" water systems that target the gap between large centralized systems and household solutions, creating opportunities for companies serving the underserved small community market. The university-led initiative addresses the critical challenge facing 150,000 small potable water systems serving 30 million Americans who experience unreliable service, high costs, and water quality violations (particularly the 40% relying on surface water complicated by heavy rainfall and sediment surges). The project's approach of prefabricated, electricity-free treatment systems shipped in standard containers shows how academic research can validate new business models for water treatment companies willing to serve smaller communities.

Olympic PFAS Disqualifications

The NY Times reports that three Olympic athletes were disqualified for PFAS contamination in their ski and snowboard equipment, marking the first enforcement of new rules banning "forever chemicals" in Winter Olympics gear due to environmental and health concerns. A Japanese snowboarder and two South Korean skiers tested positive for PFAS in their wax treatments, which provide moisture-wicking properties that enhance speed on snow but contaminate soil and water at ski resorts and competition venues. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation banned PFAS-containing ski wax in 2023 after researchers found elevated concentrations in soil at family ski resorts, ski slopes, and cross-country trails following competitions. The ban demonstrates how pervasive PFAS contamination has become: these chemicals appear not only in industrial discharge and consumer products but now in specialized sports equipment as well.

Water Hardness Testing Methods

ETI published a comprehensive guide on water hardness testing while demonstrating how suppliers can build value through education rather than direct equipment sales. The Pennsylvania-based “B2B2C” company, founded in 1986 by three independent water treatment service companies and now supporting 150+ businesses, emphasizes that accurate measurement is only the first step: proper interpretation requires understanding context including alkalinity, pH, temperature, and concentration cycles. The company breaks down three primary testing methods (titration-based kits, test strips, and digital/laboratory methods) while explaining that two water samples with identical hardness values may behave completely differently depending on system conditions.

Core Water Technologies

R2J Chemical Services published a guide on what they consider the core industrial water treatment technologies. ​​The Florida-based company opens with a confidence-based question ("how confident are you in your water?") before explaining how poor water quality disrupts operations through scale buildup, corrosion acceleration, and biological growth that reduces performance and increases costs. The team systematically covers five technology categories: physical treatment (filtration and activated carbon adsorption), membrane-based systems (reverse osmosis for dissolved solids), chemical treatment (advanced oxidation processes, chlorine dioxide disinfection), biological treatment for waste streams, and emerging technologies for persistent contaminants like PFAS and volatile organic compounds. The team says that successful treatment requires understanding all influential water quality parameters before selecting technologies.

What else is happening:

• WaterWorld does a breakdown on how drinking water treatment works start to finish

• WQA Podcast drops a new episode about federal policy developments impacting the water treatment industry

• WQA also posted an article describing their Hosted Water Pros Program

• Aquasana asks and answers: Does RO remove PFAS? (hint: yes they can!)

• H2O Concepts features on ABC15 news with a promo piece on selecting the right water system (4 min watch)