Kurt C. Peterson, Publisher
It’s taken far longer than what most people expected, but it appears the economy has rebounded enough to say things are getting better. It’s unfortunate, however, that the pace of boil water advisories, chemical spills and infrastructure failures have not diminished. This makes it even more important for the water treatment industry to be at the top of its game, ready to respond to the needs of consumers and clients.
US EPA’s Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) is a list of contaminants that are currently not subject to any proposed or promulgated national primary drinking water regulations, but are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems. Contaminants listed in the CCL may require future regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This past November, the agency announced the Final CCL 4, which includes 97 chemicals or chemical groups and 12 microbial contaminants. In other words, the water treatment specialist may now have even more to remove from tap water. Visit the US EPA website to view the full list: https://www.epa.gov/ccl/chemical-contaminants-ccl-4
In light of the new CCL being published and remnants of the Flint, MI crisis still fresh in everyone’s mind, standby treatment protocols have never been more important, whether as a first line of defense or a multi-barrier approach. Filtration is (and has been for centuries) the primary treatment option, with many advancements over the past five decades that have given both treatment specialists and consumers more peace of mind. Dr. Kelly Reynolds, Public Health Editor, focuses on POU filtration in this issue. This is not a luxury as many have thought in the past. As recent news highlights, home water treatment systems are becoming an essential part of family health.
Membrane separations comprise another aspect of filtration treatment, many of which are typically seen more as specialty options, such as ultrafiltration for commercial, industrial and laboratory processes, in addition to microfiltration, nanofiltration and the like. Although each is a different type, they are filtration nonetheless and are designed for a broad array of applications. Technical Reviewer Greg Reyneke, MWS, offers an in-depth introduction to these types, their application and the benefits.
We are soon to begin a very active convention season, with a larger number of activities being reported and added to Upcoming Events than in the past several years. One of the best ways to gain a good foothold in water treatment is learning about the industry. Attending conventions and expositions enhances the educational element of any business and these events are usually loaded with such opportunities. Whether one is seeking certification, enhanced job knowledge or a more in-depth understanding of water treatment, consider these as both business and educational opportunities.
Each new year, we have high hopes for a better year. And we have even higher hopes for our industry. It’s been a long haul to return to profitability for many, though some may not be there yet. Still, things are looking far brighter than what we’ve encountered over the past five to seven years. Let’s make the most of it and bring the water treatment and improvement industry to the highest level of productivity we can reach and maintain. We’ll be there by your side, each step of the way. Let us know how your business is doing and how you’ve achieved prosperity and success. We’re all in it together, after all!
Happy New Year from all of us to all of you and your families!