Water Testing Post-Flooding

Water Testing Post-Flooding

Recent flooding in North Carolina’s Pisgah Forest (about two hours from Charlotte) has everyone talking water quality, and it's not just about the usual bacterial suspects. Beyond E. coli, a cocktail of agricultural runoff, industrial chemicals, and debris are making its way into both public systems and private wells. Royal Water Works, Inc. writes about how post-flood water testing has become increasingly critical in mountain communities, particularly in areas where residents rely on private wells. And they say it’s not as straightforward as you’d expect; while boiling water might take care of bacteria, it won't touch those chemical contaminants. Between increasing flood frequency and mounting concerns about water safety, advanced testing and specialized treatment solutions are becoming the new normal in flood-prone areas.

Ultimate Guide to Clean Water in Louisiana

Louisiana-based Brilliant Water Technologies released their ultimate guide to tackling the state's water quality challenges. In it, the team highlights some sobering stats: Louisiana ranks among the top states for water quality concerns, with lead, mercury, and VOCs topping the list of concerns. Brilliant walks through their solution lineup, which includes whole-house filtration systems, reverse osmosis units (promising to remove 99% of contaminants), water softeners, and UV purification tech. Their pitch focuses on both health and wallet impact, mentioning how good treatment protects against long-term health issues and extends appliance life to save money. The company's particularly zeroing in on Louisiana's unique environmental challenges, from hurricane impacts to aging infrastructure woes.

Advancements in Well Water Technology

Family-owned and Connecticut-based Mad River Well Services released a nice summary of recent advancements in well water technology. Here's what they said:

• Smart monitoring is getting smarter: New sensor systems are tracking water levels, pressure, and flow rates in real-time, all viewable through mobile apps (think Nest, but for your well)

• Filtration's triple threat: Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) are combining ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and UV light to tackle tough contaminants like pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals

• Eco-friendly drilling goes high-tech: Directional drilling tech is making more precise strikes at water sources, while new variable-speed pumps are cutting energy costs by matching output to demand

• Testing gets the instant treatment: No more long lab waits– new devices are delivering immediate readings on everything from pH to E. coli, letting owners address issues on the spot instead of wondering what's in their water

Water Softeners vs. Water Descalers

Aquasana wrote a recent piece diving into the common hard water debate: water softeners vs. descalers (aka water conditioners). The team explains that traditional softeners use ion exchange to remove calcium and magnesium, requiring salt and generating some wastewater in the process. Meanwhile, descalers tackle the problem differently – they change the mineral structure through template-assisted crystallization (TAC), preventing scale without removing the minerals. While softeners remain the go-to for seriously hard water (above 25 GPG), descalers are gaining traction as a low-maintenance, eco-friendly alternative. Aquasana is positioning their SimplySoft® systems as more efficient than traditional softeners, claiming 50% less salt usage and 28% less wastewater, while their salt-free conditioner boasts a million-gallon capacity over 10 years.

What else is happening:

• U.S. EPA announces an additional $3.6 billion for water infrastructure, which will help communities across the country upgrade essential infrastructure

• Arizona's DEQ just cleared the way for treated wastewater to hit drinking fountains in 2025 (though 1 in 4 residents say they'll pass on the purified product)

• Tacoma-based startup Aquagga is bringing in a veteran cleantech exec as CEO to help scale their shipping container-sized PFAS destruction units

• Researchers have created a hydrodynamic reactor (whatever that is…) that uses bubble cavitation to remove PFAS from water

• Cincinnati-based Ultra Pure Water Technologies writes about choosing the best commercial water filtration system for your business