Is PFAS the new Flint?

Is PFAS the new Flint?

WQA’s Director of Technical Affairs, Eric Yeggy, recently sat down with the team from Mechanical Hub to discuss why PFAS deserves the same level of concern as Flint's lead crisis. These "forever chemicals" are particularly threatening to kids, who face higher exposure risks from everyday behaviors like playing on treated carpets and putting things in their mouths (plus, they drink more water per pound than adults do). Yeggy talks about how the chemicals are showing up in most Americans' bloodwork and have been linked to some scary stuff: decreased fertility, developmental issues, cancer risks, and even reduced vaccine effectiveness. While PFAS keep cycling through our environment (see below), there is some good news: certified filters and RO systems with IAPMO, NSF, or WQA seals can effectively remove them from drinking water.

Trump’s Second Term

WaterWorld's Alex Cossin wrote a recent piece analyzing Trump's return to office and what it could mean for the water treatment industry (based on trends from his previous administration):

• Water protection: Previous Trump-era policies favored state control over federal oversight, particularly for smaller waterways and wetlands through the replacement of Obama's WOTUS rule

• PFAS regulations: While current PFAS drinking water limits are set to stay in place for now, Trump's past EPA acknowledged but never enacted PFAS regulations

• Lead pipes: Trump's previous administration had reduced the annual replacement requirement from 7% to 3% for utilities exceeding 15 ppb of lead; while Biden's administration recently finalized new improvements (LCRI), Trump hasn't made any official statements about these updates

• Environmental regulations: Regulations affecting water quality, like those governing coal ash storage and mercury emissions from power plants, saw significant loosening during Trump's first term

MORE: RFK Jr.’s goal of removing fluoride from the water supply has already sparked tons of conversations about the topic (just search “fluoride in water” wherever you get your news)

NSF 51 & 61: A Sip of Safety (Sponsored)

Specialty Sales LLC & AM Products is talking about two certifications that make all the difference in water treatment: NSF 51 and NSF 61. These aren’t secret codes, but your trusty guides to a world where hoses meet health standards.

Meet The Team:

• 🍽️ NSF 51 (aka The Foodie's Favorite): A certification that ensures your hoses play nice with food equipment. From coffee makers to soda dispensers, it's got your back when food safety is on the line.

• 💧 NSF 61 (aka The Water Whisperer): The guardian of all things water-related. When you need pure, safe drinking water flowing through your systems, NSF 61 is your go-to certification.

Why Not Both?

Just like peanut butter needs jelly, some applications need both certifications. That's where Specialty Sales comes in! They offer:

• Style 5000 Grey PureFlex Water Hose

• Style 20 LLDPE Tubing

Both dual-certified. Both ready to tackle your toughest installations.

Want to learn more? Give your Specialty Sales rep a shout, or just reply to this email.

Soft Water and Hair Health

Palm Springs Water Systems just dropped some silky-smooth knowledge (hah, get it?) about why hard water is hair's worst enemy. The team talks about how calcium and magnesium in hard water make it nearly impossible to fully rinse out hair products, leading to residue buildup that weighs down hair and causes dryness, frizz, and breakage. And for folks with dyed hair, these minerals can fade and dull the appearance. The CA-based team says the solution is to use water softeners or portable exchange tank services that remove these problematic minerals. Without mineral buildup, hair retains more moisture, maintains color longer, and experiences less breakage. These hair health concerns aren’t going anywhere, and are just another way to speak to the benefits of water softeners.

Cheaper Way to Detect PFAS

UMass Amherst researchers have developed a PFAS detection method that could slash testing equipment costs from $2 million to around $40,000. The new system, using nanopore technology and a chemical molecule called cyclodextrin, can detect PFAS levels as low as 400 parts per trillion. While that's not quite at the EPA's new 4 parts per trillion standard, the research team says closing that gap is "not very hard" since PFAS are surprisingly sturdy chemicals to work with. This breakthrough could eventually lead to portable PFAS testing devices, making detection more accessible for labs and treatment facilities that can't afford current high-end equipment.

What else is happening:

• A new study published last month by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that more than 20% of the U.S. population may rely on groundwater contaminated with PFAS

• VVater announced that its Farady Reactor has received the CES 2025 Best of Innovation Award, which celebrates their “revolutionary, chemical-free purification process”

• Waterdrop writes about their refurbished RO systems

• Falcon Water Tech wrote a short post describing their water treatment solution for a dairy plant in AZ, which solved a simple problem: the cattle weren’t drinking enough water