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I've seen this issue trending on HN multiple times within the past year, search "PFAS contamination" for more info online. I moved into a new house last year n

by jb775 7y ago

I've seen this issue trending on HN multiple times within the past year, search "PFAS contamination" for more info online. I moved into a new house last year near 2 closed down USAF military bases (known to have been previously contaminated by firefighter foam) and did a ton of research on the issue since the house water comes from a well (free water!). I ended up getting a professional water filtration system installed in our basement (carbon tanks, UV light filter, reverse osmosis). Cost me $5k+ for install and ~$1500 year to swap out the tanks and service the system. It's pricey, but you can't put a price on clean water.

logfromblammo 7y ago
> "...you can't put a price on clean water." Is that... is that not exactly what you just did? $5k capital expense and $1500/yr operational expense. That system is almost certainly more than enough for your own household needs, so you could probably sell the excess capacity to your neighbors at near cost to cover some of the operational expenses.
- munk-a 7y ago
  And since it's priceable, doesn't it become an ethical question if the neighborhood should require such systems and possibly try and get federal subsidies to install them since they are required as a result of the military's actions? (And, specifically, completely non-essential actions - asking the military to clean up contamination caused by active national defense is a slightly different question)
  - logfromblammo 7y ago
    That's a good point. The capital expenses should be recoverable via civil suit, with actual operating expenses so far, and possibly also projected future operating expenses over the expected lifespan of the installation. But possibly not. Water rights in legal-land aren't always as fair or uncomplicated as ordinary non-lawyer folk--such as myself and most HN readers--might expect them to be.
stamps 7y ago
Mind sharing the exact system?
- jb775 7y ago
  Culligan Water is the company I used. Systems like mine are custom built depending on your house layout, the type of filtering you want, etc so the cost could fluctuate.

by jb775 7y ago

logfromblammo 7y ago

> "...you can't put a price on clean water." Is that... is that not exactly what you just did? $5k capital expense and $1500/yr operational expense. That system is almost certainly more than enough for your own household needs, so you could probably sell the excess capacity to your neighbors at near cost to cover some of the operational expenses.

munk-a 7y ago
And since it's priceable, doesn't it become an ethical question if the neighborhood should require such systems and possibly try and get federal subsidies to install them since they are required as a result of the military's actions? (And, specifically, completely non-essential actions - asking the military to clean up contamination caused by active national defense is a slightly different question)
- logfromblammo 7y ago
  That's a good point. The capital expenses should be recoverable via civil suit, with actual operating expenses so far, and possibly also projected future operating expenses over the expected lifespan of the installation. But possibly not. Water rights in legal-land aren't always as fair or uncomplicated as ordinary non-lawyer folk--such as myself and most HN readers--might expect them to be.

stamps 7y ago

Mind sharing the exact system?

jb775 7y ago
Culligan Water is the company I used. Systems like mine are custom built depending on your house layout, the type of filtering you want, etc so the cost could fluctuate.