While the thought of clear water flowing from a source of your own creates a unique sense of independence and accomplishment, the water from these private sources have a higher risk of chemical and bacterial contamination. With the challenge of monitoring for contaminants and the speed at which source water quality can deteriorate in small systems, unannounced exposure to contaminated water is a real possibility and can shatter the trust and security in the water that was once treasured by the homeowner.
Bringing the water from a private water source up to drinking water quality standards is no easy task at the individual home level. Even if the property is used for short periods of time, the need to properly specify systems, identify unique contaminants, and manage ongoing maintenance becomes a recurring hardship for homeowners.
Regardless of whether the property is used seasonally or year-round, this scenario puts excessive demands on the home’s water treatment systems. Specifically, Point of Entry (POE) systems that purify all water in the home can be overkill for some points of use (e.g. toilets, gardening, etc.) and require maintenance and replacements annually.
POE purification with UV lamps can be the most onerous in these situations. POE UV lamp reactors disinfect water that’s used for everything, consume energy 24/7, and require annual replacement. This results in a high annual price for a couple months of disinfected drinking water for occupants.
Ultimately, occupants need one thing from these systems: water of the right quality flowing from the right tap.