EcoWater in Iowa Changes Hands

EcoWater in Iowa Changes Hands

There’s a change of ownership for EcoWater Systems in Carroll, Iowa. After 25 years at the helm, Randy Starman has sold the business to the Drees family, who run the local plumbing supply store Drees Co (the company will now operate as Drees Co. Ecowater Systems). Starman, who recently turned 65, decided it was time to hang it up. He noted that while equipment hasn't changed much over the years, electronics play a bigger role in the business now. The Drees family, including fourth-generation members, plans to continue with excellent customer service, saying “25 years of phenomenal customer service is a big shoe to fill”. They see this acquisition as a natural fit, given their experience in the plumbing industry and previous collaborations with EcoWater.

Treating City Well for PFAS

Montana-based Daily Inter Lake reports that Kalispell, Montana is tackling a forever chemical problem in its Grandview Well by installing a new treatment system to remove PFAS from the water supply. These chemicals were found at levels twice the EPA's limit. The treatment uses anion exchange technology, with 12 units filtering 1,700 gallons per minute. The system, rented from WaterSurplus, cost $289,000 to deliver and runs $28,000 a month to rent. It's expected to work for 2-3 years before needing a resin change.

FL Company Offers PFAS Testing

Florida Water Process Services (FLWPS) is stepping up its game with a new PFAS testing service. FLWPS has teamed up with Florida International University's research labs to offer this crucial service. At $250 per sample and a three-week turnaround, it's a solid deal for those needing to comply with the new rules. The article dives into the nitty-gritty of PFAS, breaking down the EPA's new limits for five PFAS compounds in drinking water. This new requirement could shake things up in the water treatment world, potentially creating more demand for both testing services and treatment systems that can tackle these tricky chemicals.

Smart Water Networks

Water Online released an article based around a study that looks at how smart water systems can help cities handle tough situations better. The study, from the Engineering Science & Technology Journal, talks about urban resilience (aka how well a city can bounce back from things like natural disasters or deal with ongoing issues like climate change). They specifically talked about smart water tech and the researchers say that using advanced meters (AMI) and sensors can create water networks that are pretty clever. These systems can keep an eye on how much water is being used, catch leaks quickly, and even adapt when conditions change.

What else is happening:

• In news from across the pond, Grundfos has acquired the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) business of Culligan in Italy, France, and the UK.

• Glass Magazine released an article about Filtraglass, a water treatment company specializing in the glass industry, and their expansion into Colorado.

• The official Aquasana blog wrote an article with 3 tips for maintaining RO systems – changing components on time, draining and sanitizing the tanks, and cleaning plumbing pipes.

• Waterdrop compares tankless vs. traditional RO systems and (to no surprise) promotes their own tankless solutions as the best option.

• Two different water treatment businesses wrote articles this week discussing how seasonal changes can impact water quality – Michigan-based Wolverine Water Systems and Central Florida Water Treatment, Inc.