Water Filter Business Rebounds After EPA ‘Stop Sale’ Order

Water Filter Business Rebounds After EPA ‘Stop Sale’ Order

James Enterprise Inc., a family-run business in Pueblo, Colorado, hit a rough patch when the EPA cracked down on their main product, Berkey water filters, labeling them as unregistered, misbranded pesticides. This unexpected shake-up, dubbed the "filter showdown," came about because the filters claimed to remove living organisms like bacteria and viruses from water. BerkeyFilters.com, which Todd Emerson started in the late '90s with his wife to earn extra income, had grown from a small internet business to a major player, housing 50 employees in a 26,000-square-foot facility.

But with the EPA's ruling, things took a downturn. James Enterprise had to stop selling Berkey filters and cut their staff numbers in half. Not ones to give up, the Emersons pivoted, focusing on developing and manufacturing their own products under the Boroux brand, which includes durable glass drinkware and a new line of eco-friendly water filters. They even tackled creating shower filters to remove chlorine for healthier skin and hair.

How Road Salt is Impacting Our Waterways

Reynolds Water Conditioning, aka “Michigan's oldest water conditioning treatment company”, recently posted an article that sheds light on a winter problem that’s often overlooked. Every year, the US dumps around 25 million metric tons of road salt to keep the roads safe from ice, which helps cut down car accidents by a lot. But there's a downside— this salt messes up freshwater sources, pushing salt levels way up, even beyond what the EPA says is safe. This isn't just about salty water; it's about dangerous chemicals like lead getting into drinking water, just like what happened in Flint, Michigan. Experts are suggesting better ways to deal with ice, like storing salt properly, using special liquids before storms, and using smarter snowplows.

Best Under-Sink Water Filters

Good Housekeeping released their review of the Best Under-Sink Water Filters of 2024 and explained why under-sink water filters are a smart choice for better tap water. They point out that even with EPA rules, stuff like lead can still get into our water. The team says that these filters are handy because they're out of the way and easy to manage, just needing new filters every so often. The article lists the top filters tested, giving the nod to Aquasana’s 3-Stage Max Flow Claryum as the best overall for its multi-filtration technology, NSF certification for 77 contaminants, and its ability to remove PFAS. They say that Culligan’s EZ-Change is the best value filter, with its activated carbon filtration, though it lacks certification for pharmaceuticals, herbicides, and pesticides.

The State of the Industry

The WaterWorld State of the Industry Survey 2023 gathered insights from 91 water and wastewater pros from 42 states, showing a positive vibe for 2024, but with some worries about rising costs and new rules. Most of the folks who responded play a big part in their company's buying choices, indicating they're keeping a close eye on what they need and how much they can spend. Interestingly, the survey hints at a shift in the workforce, with 77% of the respondents being over 50, yet there's a good mix of experience levels in the industry. On the financial side, a third saw their revenue go up last year, and half expect more growth this year, suggesting a steady outlook. Key challenges for the next couple of years include tackling lead and copper issues, dealing with PFAS rules, managing rising costs, supply chain snags, and saving water.

What else is happening:

• WQA releases full 2024 schedule for their upcoming convention

• Water Filter Guru, making yet another appearance, asks and answers: Is ZeroWater legit?

• SafeWell writes about the 4 Types of Water Testing Methods (bacterial testing, mineral content analysis, pH testing, and additional types)

• Parobek Water Solutions, Austin’s exclusive Hague Quality Water partner, writes about 5 factors that may impact water quality during the winter

• Bello raises $1.5M CAD to help fund development of their all-in-one water purifier and infuser, equipped with a 6-month carbon-based water filter and 50-use infusion pods (see their product here)