Water Technology and WQA partner on two important industry topic surveys

In November and December, Water Technology worked with the Water Quality Association (WQA) on two separate surveys. The surveys, which focused on the topics of water reuse and time clock valves, were completed by a significant sample size of water treatment professionals.

We would like to thank all of the respondents who took the time and effort to complete these surveys. We would now like to share the results as well as a WQA-supplied short description of each survey.

Reuse survey

The information from this survey and increasing water scarcity issues, indicate that there is industry interest in water reuse with moderate industry involvement already. Water reuse is only going to increase in importance in coming years for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Thus, WQA resource dedication to some extent seems imperative.

In 2013, WQA will evaluate how it can focus on technical support for reuse technologies to provide a new member benefit that could lead industry members to embrace water reuse as a new opportunity.

1. Which of the following most accurately represents your company:

Dealer – 13.0%
Manufacturer – 33.7%
Supplier/Distributor – 21.2%
Other – 32.1%

2. Which services do you currently provide (check all that apply):

Water treatment for commercial or industrial customers – 64.3%
Residential water treatment – 44.4%
Distribution of products/equipment to dealers or retailers – 26.5%
Bottled water – 11.0%
Other – 24.2%

3. Is your company a member of the Water Quality Association (WQA)?

Yes – 26.5%
No – 55.4%
Not sure – 18.1%

4. Do you currently offer products to your clients for water reuse?

Yes – 42.9%
No – 57.1%

5. Do you have more interest in water reuse for potable or non-potable applications?

Potable – 15.8%
Non-potable – 23.2%
Interest in both – 61.0%

6. Are you a member of any associations that focus on water reuse?

Yes – 21.9%
No – 78.1%

7. If WQA were to become more involved in gathering and providing information related to water reuse, which of the following focus areas are of interest?

Reuse technologies – 84.7%
Reuse case studies – 55.9%
Reuse consumer education materials – 49.0%
Reuse regulations – 53.6%
Other – 3.1%

8. Would it be beneficial if WQA’s technical staff had more references related to water reuse?

Yes – 92.6%
No – 7.4%

9. Would you like WQA to invite convention speakers to present on water reuse?

Yes – 85.2%
No – 14.8%

10. Would you like WQA to provide webinars on water reuse topics?

Yes – 87.0%
No – 13.0%

Time clock survey

The information from this survey and increasing water scarcity and quality issues, indicate that time clock valves have limited value for most residential softening applications whereas filters with time clocks have performance based value. This information is useful to help develop or advise on regional policy, especially in salinity stressed or water scarce locations.

1. Which of the following most accurately represents your company:

Dealer – 34.4%
Manufacturer – 25.1%
Supplier/Distributor – 16.8%
Other – 23.7%

2. Which services do you currently provide (check all that apply)?

Water treatment for commercial or industrial customers – 64.7%
Residential water treatment – 61.3%
Distribution of products/equipment to dealers or retailers – 29.8%
Bottled water – 13.6%
Other – 18.5%

3. Is your company a member of the Water Quality Association (WQA)?

Yes – 41.6%
No – 47.7%
Not sure – 10.7%

4. Do you currently offer residential softeners with time clock valves to your clients?

Yes – 34.4%
No – 65.6%

5. If you answered “Yes” to Question 4, indicate the reason below:

Consumers ask for a time clock valve – 34.1%
Less maintenance – 14.7%
To keep costs low – 44.2%
To sell more salt – 5.4%
To better respond to variations in water quality, e.g. iron levels – 27.1 %
Other – 27.9%

6. Do you currently offer residential filters with time clock valves to your clients?

Yes – 44.5%
No – 55.5%

7. If you answered “Yes” to Question 6, indicate the reason below:

Consumers ask for a time clock valve – 13.5%
Less maintenance – 9.2%
To keep costs low – 22.1%
DIR valves are not appropriate for calculations of filter performance – 33.1%
Other – 22.1%

8. Do you sell products into an area that has time clock restrictions or a ban?

Yes – 13.9%
No – 86.1%

9. If your state or local jurisdiction were to take a stance on residential softeners with time clock valves, which one of the following would you support:

Do not use softeners with time clock valves – 46.0%
Allow the use of such valves only in specific conditions – 25.7%
Unlimited use of softeners with time clock valves – 19.7%
Other – 22.0%

10. If your state or local jurisdiction were to take a stance on residential filters with time clock valves, which one of the following would you support: