Clean, honest reasons whole-home filtration belongs in a well-run home. Every figure shown against both the federal legal limit and the stricter health-based guideline, with sources you can click.
Utilities test at the treatment plant. Water then travels miles through old and aging pipes. We have measured at the tap in the homes we serve, alongside the federal legal limit and a stricter health-based guideline.
| What it is | Found here | How it compares | |
|---|---|---|---|
Chlorine byproducts HAA5 A second group of byproducts from chlorine disinfection. | 22 to 45 ppb | Above the health-based target, within the legal limit. | We remove it |
Chlorine byproducts TTHMs Forms when chlorine disinfects the water. In nearly all Connecticut tap water. | 29 to 66 ppb | Above the health-based target, within the legal limit. | We remove it |
Forever chemicals PFAS · PFOA Man-made chemicals that don't break down in nature or the body. | 0 to 6 ppt | Above the health-based target, within the legal limit. | We remove it |
Lead Comes from older home plumbing, not the reservoir. | 0 to 6 ppb | Above the health-based target, within the legal limit. | We remove it |
Also tested here, not a concern: Copper.
Darien is served by the Aquarion Darien System (CT0350011). These are the published numbers for that system.
The utility's own modernization plan is the clearest confirmation yet of the story we tell every day: water travels a long way, through aging pipe, before it reaches your home.
Read →Water quality is measured where it's treated. Then it travels miles of pipe to your kitchen — and a lot can happen in between.
Read →Chlorine keeps water free of bacteria — and reacts to form byproducts that the federal limit allows at hundreds of times the health-based guideline.
Read →The real, published figures for the towns we serve — each shown against both the federal limit and the EWG health-based guideline.
Much of back-country Greenwich, New Canaan, and Weston runs on private wells — which means no utility, no annual report, and no required testing at all.
The questions we hear most often, with honest answers. Don’t see yours? Email hello@soundwaterco.com.
Your utility treats the water at the plant and does that job well. From there it travels miles through aging service lines, decades-old water mains, and your home's own plumbing before it reaches your faucet. The CCR your utility publishes describes water leaving the plant; your tap is the last mile, and that's the part we take care of. Beyond that, many federal limits haven't kept pace with health-based research. We show the federal limit and the stricter health-based guideline side by side and let you decide.
It varies by town and utility, but for most Aquarion-area homes the typical findings are chlorine byproducts (TTHMs and HAA5) at levels well below the federal limit but above EWG's health-based guideline, low-parts-per-trillion PFAS, and plumbing-borne lead or copper risk in older homes. Leave us your email on the homepage and we'll send the typical profile for your area.
They're two different yardsticks. The federal legal limit is what the EPA allows by law, and those limits factor in treatment cost and feasibility, not health alone. The health-based guideline comes from the EWG (Environmental Working Group), an independent research nonprofit; it reflects what current health science would prefer, with no cost considerations, so it's almost always the stricter of the two. Federal limits also haven't kept pace: the EPA hadn't added a new drinking-water contaminant in over 25 years until the 2024 PFAS rule. We show both numbers side by side and let you decide where you're comfortable.
A pitcher filters one source, your kitchen sink. We install at the point your water enters the house, so every tap, every shower, every appliance gets filtered water. Whole-home filtration also has far more contact time and capacity, which means it can reduce contaminants like PFAS, TTHMs, and HAA5 that pitcher-style filters can't address effectively.
About two to three hours for a typical home. Our team handles everything: installing the filter housing, plumbing it into your main water line, and walking you through the system before they leave. You don't need to do anything except be home.
We quote after a free in-home water assessment. The cost depends on your home size and water profile, and we'd rather give you a real number than a placeholder. We come take a look, then put together a written quote. No obligation.
Equipment (the whole-home filter housing and initial cartridges), professional installation by our team, and a walkthrough of the system before we leave. No surprise charges. We'll go through exactly what your home needs when we come take a look.
No. Ongoing care is optional. You can have the system installed and look after the cartridges yourself. If you'd rather not think about it, you can choose ongoing care: scheduled visits from our team, fresh cartridges shipped to your door, or service whenever you need it. You can start, stop, or switch at any time.
Typically every three to six months depending on your water and household usage. With ongoing care this is handled for you, with fresh cartridges arriving on schedule. On your own, you can buy and swap cartridges yourself, and we'll send a reminder when it's time.
Give us a call. If you're near our area we'll usually find a way to help; if you're not, we'll be straight with you about that too.
The whole-home system is plumbed into the house, so it stays with the property. If you move within our service area, we can install a new system at your new address with credit for any unused care months. If your water is different there, we'll reassess before designing the new install.
Workmanship is covered by the licensed installer who does the install, and the equipment is covered by its manufacturer. The specific terms come with your written quote and your system documentation. Sound Water Co. is your single point of contact if anything goes wrong, and we'll work with the installer and the manufacturer on your behalf.
Technically possible, but not what we offer. We handle the whole thing: choosing the right system for your home, installing it properly, and looking after it over time. The point of Sound Water Co. is that you don't have to figure any of this out yourself.
Leave us your email on the homepage and we'll send your utility's typical profile, with the federal EPA limit and the EWG health-based guideline side by side. When we come take a look, we'll go through what it means for your home. And if your water doesn't actually need filtering, we'll tell you.