Water Changes in Winter

Water Changes in Winter

Watercure published a timely guide explaining why water tastes different during winter months, positioning themselves as the solution for holiday hosting concerns. In it, the New York company explains that cold water holds minerals like iron and manganese differently than warm water, making these compounds more noticeable and creating metallic or earthy tastes (especially rough for well water users). The team says that groundwater levels shift during winter which changes water composition even in municipal supplies, while colder temperatures make taste buds more sensitive to chlorine adjustments that utilities make during winter months. Freezing temperatures also increase sediment movement in well systems, leading to cloudy water or aftertastes in older systems. Watercure connects these technical issues to practical holiday concerns, saying that winter water changes affect coffee and tea quality, holiday recipe outcomes, and overall guest impressions.

Study Links PFAS to Infant Health Impacts

Researchers from the University of Arkansas published findings showing major health effects on babies from PFAS exposure through pregnant mothers, including low birth weight and increased death rates. The lead researcher noted that "whatever PFAS we see in groundwater is only a tiny fraction of the PFAS that has been dumped in the environment," with most still in soil and slowly moving downward toward water supplies. In the study, researchers found a way to prove PFAS exposure was essentially random, making their health impact findings much stronger than previous studies. The study also reinforces the importance of activated carbon filtration, with researchers specifically noting that both utility-scale and home-installed carbon filters can remove these long-chain PFAS from drinking water.

Know Your Portable Exchange (Sponsored)

Installing or servicing portable exchange systems for residential water softening? Specialty Sales LLC & AM Products stocks components for all three main configurations: Culligan-style, Rayne (Yoke-style), and Servisoft setups. Each uses a different sealing method and flow pattern, so knowing which one you're working with saves time on installations and repairs. 

What's Available: 

• 🔄 Culligan Slip-Style: Gasket-sealed fittings that slide together

• 🔩 Rayne (Yoke-Style): Bolt-down assemblies with O-ring or gasket seals

• 💧 Servisoft Configuration: Top inlet/bottom outlet flow design 

• 🔧 Complete Component Selection: Tanks, fittings, gaskets, and O-rings in stock 

Check out the team's full blog post here, or watch Tyler walk through the different configurations (4 min. watch):

Need help matching components to your installation? Contact Specialty Sales by clicking here or reply to this email and we'll get you connected. 

Water Softener Regeneration

Praz Pure Water posted a homeowner guide to water softener regeneration and positions their Los Angeles-based company as an expert resource. The guide explains regeneration as the "reset button" that cleans resin beads full of minerals, comparing the resin bed to a special sponge that gets completely full of hard minerals and needs regular washing. Praz breaks down the four-stage cycle: backwash to clear debris and expand resin beads, brine draw where sodium kicks out calcium and magnesium, slow rinse to remove mineral-heavy saltwater, and fast rinse to pack beads and get rid of salt traces. The team points out the benefits of smart systems over timer-based models, noting that modern systems can cut salt and water use by up to 50% by regenerating only when needed rather than on set schedules.

Hotel Water Treatment

R2J Chemical Services wrote their guide for hotel water treatment, positioning themselves as experts in hospitality water management while educating facility managers about critical water quality needs. The company explains that hotels face unique challenges because water affects every guest touchpoint, from showers to dining room service, and even small water quality problems can quickly damage guest satisfaction and reviews. The company breaks down core hotel systems: filtration for removing sediment that damages pipes and equipment, water softeners to prevent scale in boilers and dishwashers, reverse osmosis for pure drinking water and ice machines, and UV systems for bacteria control. R2J emphasizes guest-facing applications where water quality directly impacts experience, including swimming pools, hot tubs, drinking water stations, and food service areas that need consistent, great-tasting water.

What else is happening:

• LSU researchers have developed a $4 device that can detect the same microbes as equipment costing up to $10,000, great for rural communities

• In Illinois, a national laboratory and a local engineering firm have teamed up to develop a next-gen water treatment system to eliminate PFAS chemicals

• Water Filter Guru dropped two reviews this week: one on the Philips Water Dispenser (a 6-stage RO unit) and the other on the Sprite Bath Filter

• When asked why they built their 10-stage water filtration system, Purity Bay compared Florida water to “that unpredictable neighbor who shows up uninvited”

• Engineer Fix, a blog that aims to simplify complex engineering concepts, writes an article on Kinetico water softener repair