Regan Water

Regan Water Notes

Useful water advice.
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Understand what is in your water, what different systems actually do, and which questions to ask before you spend money.

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All water notes

38 practical articles, published from the Regan Water library.

Professional Water Testing Options

4 min read

Professional Water Testing Options

Water is essential to life, yet many of us take its quality for granted. Whether you’re filling a glass at home or running a business that relies on clean water, knowing what’s in your water is crucial. Contaminants can be invisible, and their effects might not show up immediately. That’s why professional water testing options are so important. They give you peace of mind and help you take action if needed. Let’s dive into what water testing involves, why it matters, and how you can ensure...

5 min read

Salt-Free Water Systems

Salt-Free Water Systems: Do They Offer the Right Solution for Your Home? As homeowners increasingly focus on water quality, salt-free water systems present an...

3 min read

What's in Your Water?

What's in Your Water? With new EPA proposals for PFAS regulations and ongoing concerns about microplastics and pharmaceuticals, understanding what's in your...

3 min read

Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water

A Straightforward Guide to What They Are and What’s Regulated If you have heard “forever chemicals,” you have probably also seen the acronym that goes with it. This isn't easy to pronounce for some, try saying it like this and you will be pretty close: Per-floor-oh-al-kil and replace Per with Poly (which means "many") for these chemical groups. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals. PFAS are not one chemical. They are a category that includes many...

3 min read

Emerging Contaminants: What You Need to Know

“Emerging” does not automatically mean “new” or “dangerous.” It means the science, monitoring, and standards are changing and now we have new data. So, be careful to listen for context when you hear "emerging contaminants" and realize, this is the important part for anyone drinking water, that new contaminants are made faster than the methods to detect them. The obvious question is: What is an "emerging contaminant"? That depends, an emerging contaminant is usually one of these: A chemical...

3 min read

Progress Is Happening — But Your Water Still Finishes at Home

Most people only think about their water when something changes. Coffee tastes slightly different. Ice looks cloudy. A shower feels harsher than usual. Those small shifts are usually what bring attention to something that otherwise runs quietly in the background. The truth is, there has been meaningful progress in water treatment over the past several years. Utilities across the country are replacing aging infrastructure, upgrading treatment technologies, and expanding monitoring for emerging...

3 min read

Winter Water

A familiar winter moment In winter, some people notice changes in their coffee, tea and even just hot water might emit a faint smell. These changes in water tend to surface as temperatures drop. While they are typically not dangerous, they serve as signals that the water is different compared to other times of the year. Gaining an understanding of these changes can help distinguish between normal seasonal variations and issues that may require attention. Water doesn’t stay the same year-round...

2 min read

Is it “Good Enough”?

The most common and perfectly natural way people judge water quality is with this simple test: Does it look clear, can I see anything in it, and is it odorless? If the answer is yes, the water is usually assumed to be “good enough.” A few people might go on to ask " Do I think there is anything suspicious about where it came from?" In reality, water quality rarely announces itself through obvious or immediate failures. Most issues with water are not dramatic; they are incremental. Municipal...

4 min read

Bottled Water: What is it, really?

Good or bad, bottled water is a routine part of daily life for many people. It is sold in nearly ever public area humans frequent, often with little thought given to where it comes from, where it ends up, or how it differs from other drinking water sources. Let's start with what's in the bottle. Bottled Water Sources In the United States, bottled water may originate from several different types of sources. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, these sources include municipal...

3 min read

Microplastics in Microbreweries

Contamination Where You’d Least Expect It Perhaps you would expect microplastics in the ocean, maybe even in bottled water — but in your favorite small-batch craft beer? That might catch you off guard. Recent testing shows microplastics are found in microbrews. In fact, a 2025 study found that 95% of U.S. beers — from national brands to neighborhood breweries — contained measurable plastic particles. The surprise isn’t in the beer itself, it’s in the water they use. The Hidden Source Was...

4 min read

Tankless Reverse Osmosis Systems: Better or Not?

Reverse osmosis systems are known for clean, reliable water — but not all designs are created equal. Traditional RO systems store filtered water in a pressurized tank so it’s ready on demand. Tankless RO systems skip the tank entirely and filter water as you use it. That sounds like a small design change, but it has a big impact on purity, maintenance, and even mold prevention. Why Tanks Are the Weak Link Even in a well-built setup, the storage tank is often the weakest link for hygiene...

4 min read

Hate soft water?

You're in the shower, you just finished washing, and something feels off. Your skin is slick, almost slippery, like the soap hasn’t...

3 min read

Changing Water

For most of human history, “water” meant two ingredients: H₂O and a scattering of natural minerals. In the last 100 years we have layered...