Water Filter Rental Program

Water Filter Rental Program

Culligan of DFW published details about their whole-house water filter rental program that offers some interesting insights. The team positions rentals as a way to overcome the biggest barrier to whole-house systems, high upfront costs, by offering professional installation and ongoing maintenance for a monthly fee instead of large payments. Culligan of DFW emphasizes local water knowledge, noting that Dallas faces high chlorine levels, sediment from aging infrastructure, and seasonal taste changes, then markets their decades of area experience as a competitive advantage. The product lineup shows how they segment solutions: basic Filtr-Cleer for sediment, Cullar for taste and odor, Cullneu for acid problems, plus specialized Sulfur-Cleer and PFAS systems with third-party NSF certification. Their rental model includes everything: installation, filter changes, system checks, and repairs, plus they offer rental-to-own options and will move systems to new homes within their service area.

Reverse Osmosis vs Deionization

Clear Wave Water wrote a comparison guide explaining the differences between RO and deionization systems. The veteran-owned and Virginia-based company explains that reverse osmosis pushes water through a special membrane that blocks contaminants like fluoride, arsenic, lead, and nitrates, making it great for residential drinking water with 99% contaminant reduction when properly maintained. Deionization works differently, using ion-exchange resins to remove charged particles like calcium and magnesium, and producing ultra-low mineral water that's perfect for laboratories and manufacturing but requires more maintenance.

The team notes that RO systems need filter replacement every 6-12 months and membranes every 2-3 years, while DI systems require resin regeneration or replacement every few months depending on usage. The guide explains that many facilities combine both technologies, with RO removing most contaminants first and DI polishing off remaining ions for maximum purity. Clear Wave positions RO as the better choice for homes due to lower costs and simpler maintenance, while DI works better for high-precision applications.

Iowa Counties Step Up

Inside Climate News reported on how Polk County voted to spend $200,000 to keep Iowa's water testing network running after the state stopped paying for it, with the University of Iowa running 60 sensors that check water quality in streams and rivers across the state. These sensors test things like nitrate levels and temperature every 10 minutes and post the results online for researchers and officials to track pollution. Iowa's government cut the $500,000 in funding in 2023 and gave the money to farmers instead for things like planting buffer strips (which is a problem because Iowa has some of the worst farm runoff pollution in the country). Polk County's 500,000 people get their drinking water from two rivers that had near-record pollution levels this year, forcing the local water company to spend millions on treatment plants and nearly $10,000 daily to clean the water when pollution gets really bad.

Water Softener Costs

Water Medic of Cape Coral, FL released a detailed breakdown of water softener costs in their service area, with total investments ranging from $1,500 to $4,500 (including professional installation). The company breaks costs into three tiers: entry-level systems for smaller households run $1,500-$2,500, mid-range options for average families cost $2,500-$3,500, and premium systems with smart features can hit $3,500-$4,500 or more. Water Medic explains that pricing depends on local water hardness levels, household size and water usage, plus system features like Wi-Fi monitoring and dual-tank designs. The team compares salt-based ion exchange systems ($800-$3,000) with salt-free conditioners ($1,500-$4,000) and magnetic descalers ($300-$1,000), noting that salt-based units work best for Southwest Florida's seriously hard water.

What else is happening:

• Kel Tren WaterCare posts a guide with all the details homeowners should know about EPA guidelines for PFAS

• H2O Systems Inc, also based in Cape Coral, details how to prep well water systems for a hurricane

• Family-owned Meadow Lake Water Treatment explains why faucet filters aren’t enough to protect water quality

• Dierolf writes what’s really going on when water tastes like blood (just in time for Halloween)