See how contractors are doing in the treatment market. The point-of-use/point-of-entry treatment market has been beckoning the water well drilling professionals for some time, and contractors definitely are hearing the siren's song. As traditional markets tighten - and along with them, profit margins - drilling contractors increasingly are eyeing this easy-enough-to-enter market with a higher level of interest and commitment.





The point-of-use/point-of-entry treatment market has been beckoning the water well drilling professionals for some time, and contractors definitely are hearing the siren's song. As traditional markets tighten - and along with them, profit margins - drilling contractors increasingly are eyeing this easy-enough-to-enter market with a higher level of interest and commitment. And for good reason. Results from National Driller's recently completed water treatment study offer some insight, allowing drilling contractors and other water professionals to make more-informed decisions.

Thanks to all of our readers who participated in the study (subscribers who install water treatment equipment/systems), and congratulations to Gerald Austin (A&R Pump, Buchanan, Va.), the randomly selected winner of a $100 American Express gift certificate.

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Some of the survey's findings:

Percentage of contracting firm's revenue that is generated by water treatment system installations
On average, 26 percent of the revenue is generated by water treatment installations.

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How the revenue has changed over the past two years

Over the next two years, contractors expect water treatment revenues to:
Increase - 73%
Stay the same - 27%
Decrease - 0%


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Types of water treatment equipment/systems being installed (multiple answers allowed)
Water softeners - 90%
Cartridge filters - 80%
Sediment filters - 80%
Carbon filters - 74%
Reverse osmosis - 58%
UV disinfectors - 49%
Chlorine filters - 48%
Other - 25%


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Primary water issues facing users of water treatment equipment/systems (multiple answers allowed)

Where water treatment equipment/systems are purchased (multiple answers allowed)
Water treatment distributor/dealer - 66%
Plumbing distributor - 41%
Direct from manufacturer - 33%
Big box/hardware store - 8%
Customer purchases equipment/systems - 4%
Other - 2%


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Annual revenue generated from the installation of water treatment/purification systems

Experience (in years) installing equipment/systems
Less than 1 year - 2%
1 year - 2%
2-3 years - 9%
4-5 years - 6%
More than 5 years - 81%


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Number of employees devoted to water treatment Mean + 4 employees; median: 2 employees

Water treatment/purification markets served
Private - 47%
Public - 3%
Both - 50%


Breakdown of the private projects
Residential - 44%
Commercial/Industrial - 6%
Both - 50%


Ninety-five percent of water treatment contractors have influence in the selection of the brand of water treatment/purification equipment that is installed. ND