Learn
Straight answers about your water
Every guide starts with a direct answer, cites the agency or utility it comes from, and tells you when a lab test matters more than our opinion.
Well water
- Arsenic in Union County wells: what the data shows and what to doThree studies found roughly 18–21% of tested Union County wells above the 10 µg/L arsenic standard. Here's what each study measured, why the geology matters, and how to handle it.
- Low pH well water, blue-green stains and pinhole leaksPiedmont well water is often slightly acidic. Here's how low pH corrodes copper plumbing, what the warning signs are, how to test, and how neutralizers work.
- Orange or black stains from your well: iron, manganese, or bothRust-orange stains point to iron, black or brown to manganese. What the thresholds mean, how often local wells exceed them, and how treatment is matched to a test.
- Radon in North Carolina well water: test the air first, then the waterMost Piedmont wells carry some radon. The NC Radon Program says test your air first, and treat well water mainly when levels are high. Here's what the numbers mean.
- New construction on a well in Union County: what to test and whenNorth Carolina requires every new well to be tested before it's used for drinking water. Here's what that test covers, what it leaves out, and how Union County well data should shape your plan.
City water
- Concord and Kannapolis tap water: what the 2025 reports actually sayTwo neighboring cities, a shared lake and a lot of interconnections. A plain-English read of both 2025 water quality reports, including why we're not publishing their PFAS numbers yet.
- Does Charlotte water use chloramine or chlorine?Charlotte Water disinfects with free chlorine. A few regional systems report chloramine. Here's who uses what, and the one practical reason it matters.
- Lake Norman water: who supplies it, and what the reports showCornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Mooresville and Denver all sit on the same lake but get water from different systems, and plenty of lake homes are on wells. Here's how to tell which is yours.
- Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Tega Cay water: one plant, five reportsMost of northern York County drinks water treated at one Rock Hill plant, but each system publishes its own report. Here's what they say about disinfectant, hardness, lead and violations.
Water testing
- How often should you test your well water in North Carolina?The state's recommended schedule: bacteria every year, metals and nitrate every two years, pesticides and VOCs every five. Plus the situations that mean test now.
- How to read your North Carolina new-well test resultsEvery new NC well gets a state-required test for bacteria, metals, nitrate and pH. Here's what's on it, what isn't, and how to read each line against its limit.
Buying guide
- How our licensed installer model works, and why we chose itTwo agreements, two clear sets of responsibilities. Here's who you contract with, who warranties what, how scheduling and permits work, and why we set it up this way.
- How to choose a water treatment company: questions to ask and red flagsA good water treatment company can show you its test, name the certification behind every claim, and put the price in writing before you sign. Here's the checklist, and the tactics to walk away from.
- NSF/ANSI water treatment standards, explained for homeowners"NSF certified" doesn't mean a filter removes everything. Here's what each standard covers, why the specific contaminant claim matters, and how to verify a model yourself.
- Do you need a permit to add water treatment in North or South Carolina?Whole-house water treatment is plumbing work under North Carolina law. Here's who pulls the permit, how South Carolina handles it, and the questions to ask before work starts.
- Why a TDS meter can't tell you if your water is safeA TDS meter estimates dissolved minerals from electrical conductivity. It can't detect lead, arsenic, bacteria or PFAS. Here's what the reading means and how demos misuse it.
Comparisons
- City water vs. well water: who tests it, and what that means for youCity water comes with a utility that tests it and publishes the results every year. A private well comes with you. Here's how that changes testing and treatment decisions.
- Water softener vs. salt-free conditioner: what's the real difference?A softener removes calcium and magnesium. A salt-free conditioner leaves them in the water. Here's how each works, what certification backs each, and the questions worth asking.
- Water softener vs. water filter: different tools for different problemsSofteners and filters get sold as if they're interchangeable. They aren't. Here's what each one changes in your water, how to tell which problem you have, and when a well needs both.
- Whole-home carbon vs. reverse osmosis: which one fits your water?Carbon treats every tap, mostly for taste and odor. Reverse osmosis treats one tap and reduces a much wider range of contaminants. A side-by-side comparison, with no sales spin.
- Whole-house vs. point-of-use filtration: match the system to the problemThe right question isn't which system is better. It's where your problem shows up: in the whole house, or in the glass. A neutral comparison with local examples.
Start with an honest answer about your water.
Tell us about your home and water source. We'll recommend testing first, and only the equipment your results support.