Water treatment solutions becoming the norm
Consumer demand leaning toward whole-home water treatment portfolios.
Image courtesy of simonkr / Vetta / Getty Images
The plumbing industry is at the forefront of water conservation, safety and quality, with virtually all manufacturers working toward a shared goal of increased efficiency and accessibility to clean water. Even so, the U.S. has an alarming water quality problem. One in four Americans’ water is unsafe to drink and 45% of tap water contains PFAS.
As end users become more aware of and knowledgeable on the damaging effects of PFAS, micro plastics, other chemicals and hard water, plumbing professionals must be up-to-date with the latest water treatment and filtration technologies on the market. Plumbing & Mechanical sat down with Sara Krupa, category manager, filtration at Moen to talk all things water filtration.
PM: Tell us about your role with Moen. How and why did you become so passionate about water quality and treatment?
Sara Krupa, Category Manager, Filtration at Moen. Photo courtesy of Moen
SK: I started at Moen about six years ago as an intern on our kitchen product team. About two years ago, I found myself in filtration, which was a new category for us; we started with under sink — anything below the kitchen sink such as a carbon or a reverse osmosis system.
The filtration segment has really resonated with me because I'm very into health and wellness and as I started to really dive into all the education and all of the facts about the contaminants in our water, I found myself being passionate about this topic. We use water so many ways every day, and once you have the awareness of what can be in your water, it really starts to get your mind going on how we can solve this problem and how we can bring awareness to water quality in the United States.
PM: What are some big picture stats that will put the U.S. water quality issue into perspective?
SK: Looking at the U.S., there are three big stats that I call out to make people aware”
- 1 in 4 Americans has water that's actually unsafe to drink;
- About 45% of tap water contains at least one PFAS, which is a synthetic manmade chemical that's really stubborn to filter out; and
- On average, people consume about five grams of micro plastics a week, which is about the equivalent to a credit card.
When we're talking about water filtration, people often focus on drinking water, which is, of course, a big aspect, but there's a lot of other ways we use water. Showering, or washing your face with hard water can lead to dry, irritated skin. Your appliances can even be affected if there's very hard water in the pipes.
Water treatment becomes the norm: A conversation with filtration expert, Moen's Sara Krupa
The plumbing industry is at the forefront of water conservation, safety and quality, with virtually all manufacturers working toward a shared goal of increased efficiency and accessibility to clean water. Even so, the U.S. has an alarming water quality problem. One in four Americans’ water is unsafe to drink and 45% of tap water contains PFAS. As end users become more aware of and knowledgeable on the damaging effects of PFAS, micro plastics, other chemicals and hard water, plumbing professionals must be up-to-date with the latest water treatment and filtration technologies on the market. Plumbing & Mechanical sat down with Sara Krupa, category manager, filtration at Moen to talk all things water filtration.
PM: What areas of the country are suffering the most? What areas are making great advancements?
SK: There is a lot of rationality in this space, so the quality of your water really depends on where you are in the country. The biggest component to really understand how water quality connects to filtration is having the awareness of what's in your water. I always tell people to go to EWG.com/tapwaterscore.
Put in your zip code and it will bring up your EPA report of everything that's outside of the limits and then from there you can get a water test and start looking how to filter things out.
PM: What are the best ways for contractors, engineers and wholesalers to educate their end users about the water treatment options available and the issues surrounding water quality in their area?
SK: It is really important to note that water treatment options not only assist in removing things such as the contaminants and help with kind of just the lifespan of your appliances in your home, but they also are better with the environment by eliminating single use plastic.
At Moen, what we're trying to do is deliver products focused on the home itself while prioritizing comfort, safety and peace of mind. We break it down into two categories: Point of use systems and whole home filtration systems.
Find more details about Moen’s growing water filtration portfolio here. Photo courtesy of Moen
PM: What consumer expectations is Moen noticing today when it comes to their water quality?
SK: We have noticed a big uptick in consumers caring about not only water conservation, but water quality in general. From Moen’s water perception survey, about 94% of residents responded and said that water saving and water quality is somewhat or very important to them.
What we try to do at Moen is make water filtration easily accessible for their needs. Each household has its own need, whether they're looking at something for underneath the sink or for the whole home. Switching to a water filter can save an additional 92% compared to buying bottled water. Understanding and pitching water filtration systems is a really great way for the installer to make an accessible and impactful upgrade to a home.
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