The $847 Hard Water Tax

The $847 Hard Water Tax

McCandless Plumbing created a data-driven report connecting water quality variations across Pennsylvania to specific homeowner costs. The Western New York company reveals that homeowners in hard water areas (>180 mg/L) pay an average of $847 more annually in plumbing costs, breaking down into water heater repairs ($420), fixture replacements ($215), scale removal ($145), and emergency repairs ($67). The study includes findings like water heaters lasting only 6.2 years in hard water versus 11.8 years in soft water areas (a 47% lifespan reduction). The company says there’s an 82% awareness gap, with most at-risk homeowners lacking water treatment protection despite the economics showing $1,500 softeners paying for themselves in under two years.

PFAS Threat to Great Lakes

UW-Madison published research showing how PFAS contamination reaches the Great Lakes through multiple pathways, creating long-term risks for 30 million people who depend on the lakes for drinking water. The study found PFAS concentrations exceeding 1,700 parts per trillion in Wisconsin freshwater sources near firefighting foam use (over 400 times higher than federal drinking water limits for PFOS and PFOA). Professor Remucal explains that contamination sources include rivers carrying industrial and military runoff, groundwater plumes from firefighting foam, pesticide runoff from agriculture, and even precipitation containing PFAS from atmospheric transport. What makes the situation particularly concerning is the extremely slow water cycling through the Great Lakes—from 2.6 years in Lake Erie to nearly 200 years in Lake Superior—meaning PFAS contamination will persist for generations.

Hose vs. Tubing (Sponsored)

Not sure whether you need hose or tubing for your application? You're not alone—it's one of the most common questions we get at Specialty Sales.

The key difference comes down to reinforcement: hose has a braid, spiral, or corrugation for added strength, while tubing is non-reinforced and extruded as a single material. Knowing which one you need (and how they're sized) helps you spec the right fittings and avoid ordering mistakes. 

What's Available:

• 💪 Reinforced Hose: PVC pure water, no-kink corrugated, rubber general purpose, and suction hose options 

• 📏 Non-Reinforced Tubing: PVC, LLDPE, nylon, polyurethane, and specialty tubing in stock 

• 🔧 Barb Fittings: Plastic, stainless steel, and brass for I.D.-sized hose and PVC tubing 

• 🔘 Push-Connect Fittings: John Guest and compatible fittings for O.D.-sized tubing (LLDPE, nylon) 

Check out the team's full blog post here, or watch Darrin explain the differences and fitting compatibility (5 min. watch): 

Need help selecting the right hose, tubing, or fittings for your system? Contact Specialty Sales by clicking here or reply to this email and we'll get you connected.

Free Filtration Systems

In more PFAS news, the California city of Adelanto recently committed to providing home water filtration systems at no cost to approximately 500 households after residents complained about "brown, cloudy, foul-smelling" water and health issues including hair and skin problems. The response comes three years after PFOS was first detected at 4.3 parts per trillion in Adelanto's water supply, with California state representatives promising to support both equipment and installation costs following advocacy at the League of California Cities conference. Mayor Gabriel Reyes emphasized that meeting minimum state water quality standards isn't sufficient, expressing desire to exceed requirements for resident peace of mind.

RO Filter Replacement Schedule

Water Medic released a guide on reverse osmosis filter replacement while emphasizing that standard 6-12 month pre-filter and 2-5 year membrane timelines don't account for local water conditions. The Southwest Florida company explains that the region's notoriously hard water, high sediment levels, and chlorine treatment create unique challenges that can cut membrane lifespan from 5 years to just 2-3 years without proper pre-filter maintenance. The company breaks down replacement schedules by local water source, showing Cape Coral municipal water requires 6-9 month pre-filter changes while rural well water may need changes every 3-6 months due to iron, hydrogen sulfide, and high TDS levels. Their approach uses technical credibility (TDS rejection rates, specific contamination data) to justify professional service over DIY maintenance, positioning filter changes as comprehensive system health checks rather than simple part swaps.

What else is happening:

• Temple University researchers are developing a technology that uses air bubbles to remove PFAS chemicals and microplastics from surface water

• NBC News says showerhead filters “really work” and gives their top six recommendations

• WQA Podcast drops a new episode on “A Career in Water” (and debuts their new logo!)

• Dierolf Plumbing & Water Treatment says the A. O. Smith HomeShield™ is their go-to low-maintenance PFAS filter

• R2J Chemical Services releases a technical guide on stainless steel passivation in water treatment systems