Our editorial standards
Every guide on RuralWaterHQ follows the same rules, regardless of whether it earns us anything.
1. Diagnosis before products
We never recommend equipment without first explaining how to confirm the problem it solves — usually with a specific, measurable test (ppm, GPG, PSI, pH). If a product recommendation on this site isn’t tied to a measurable condition, that’s a defect: report it and we’ll fix it.
2. How we evaluate products
Our rankings weigh, in order: fitness for the measured condition (does the technology actually treat this contaminant at this concentration), long-term reliability signals (failure modes reported across large volumes of verified owner reviews, warranty terms and how the manufacturer honors them), total cost of ownership (media replacement, salt, electricity — not just sticker price), and serviceability (standard parts vs. proprietary lock-in). Commission rates are not an input. Several of our picks earn us nothing.
3. Sources
Technical claims are sourced from manufacturer specifications, EPA and CDC private-well guidance, state health department and university extension publications, and industry standards (NSF/ANSI certifications). Cost figures are ranges compiled from published contractor pricing and owner reports, reviewed for the current year.
4. Use of AI
We use AI tools in research and drafting, the way we use spreadsheets and spellcheck. Every published guide is reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by a human before publication, and a human is accountable for every claim. Nothing on this site is published without human review.
5. Corrections policy
When we get something wrong, we correct the article, note the correction at the bottom with a date, and — for material errors — say what changed. Spot an error? Tell us. Corrections are handled within 5 business days.
6. Update policy
Cost guides are reviewed annually; product guides are reviewed when models are discontinued or reformulated, and at minimum every 12 months. Every article displays its last-reviewed date.
7. What we don’t do
We don’t accept payment for rankings or reviews. We don’t run sponsored content presented as editorial. We don’t give medical advice — health-contaminant questions route to certified labs and your health department.