The News — Water in the Headlines
Week 3 was current events week: hurricane season, PFAS contamination data, the EPA rollback, boil water advisories in major cities, and well water during power outages. Seven field notes grounded in what is actually happening in mid-2026.
What we covered this week
Deep Well Hand Pumps: Simple Pump vs Bison Compared
American-made, stainless steel, rated to 325 and 250 feet respectively. The permanent grid-independent water solution.
Hurricane Season 2026: Your Water Prep Checklist
Water is the first supply to run out. WaterBOB + stored water + Sawyer = the complete storm water plan.
What a Boil Water Advisory Actually Means
Rolling boil 1 minute. Dump ice. Flush refrigerator lines. Replace exposed filters after the advisory is lifted.
176 Million Americans Are Drinking PFAS Water
EPA UCMR 5 data: 3,539 sites, 176 million people. NSF 53 and NSF 58 certified filtration is the household response.
The EPA Is Rolling Back PFAS Limits
Compliance extended to 2031 for four compounds. PFOA/PFOS 2027 deadline retained. Test and filter now, independent of the regulatory timeline.
Your Well Stops Working When the Power Goes Out
Pressure tank holds 7–18 gallons of usable water. Know your pump specs. Pre-fill storage now.
Two Boil Advisories in Two Weeks
Atlanta May 22, Oakland County May 10. Aging infrastructure, not rare events. Prepared households treat advisories as inconveniences.
The week's insight
Federal regulation is not a water plan.
PFAS compliance timelines extend to 2031. Aging water mains break without warning. Hurricane seasons are unpredictable. The regulatory and infrastructure systems that protect drinking water are real and meaningful — but they operate on timescales that are not matched to individual household needs during a disruption. Household preparation is not redundancy; it is the layer the system expects you to provide for yourself.
This week's action
Check your local utility's water quality report for PFAS results.
Your utility's Consumer Confidence Report is required to be posted online annually by July 1. Search "[your city] water quality report 2025" and look for the PFAS or UCMR 5 monitoring section. If PFAS appear at detectable levels, consider a Tap Score PFAS panel ($249) to test your specific tap — utility averages do not reflect what is at your individual faucet.
Next week: Going Deeper
Week 4 covers advanced water independence — long-term storage, 55-gallon drums, bleach ratios, rainwater setup, PFAS certifications, home water testing, and closing with the budget guide and the one-weekend project. The full month in one closing week.
Water Preparedness Hub →