The Complete Handbook of Water Dispensing & Filtration

Solid reference work. The chapter on specifications is genuinely useful—finally a clear explanation of what micron ratings and GPM actually mean in practice. My only complaint is the troubleshooting section could have more case studies; it's mostly diagnosis flowcharts. Still, this is the most practical water system guide I've found, and I've already recommended it to two other facility managers.

This is exactly what the category needed. I'm a plumber and I was tired of relying on manufacturer brochures and guessing at what clients really needed. The installation chapter alone has saved me hours on job site callbacks—the pressure testing protocol they outline is rock solid. And the section on business models in Chapter 6 gave me ideas for a side service I'm actually pursuing now. Genuinely valuable.

The book is thorough and well-organized, but it feels more like an encyclopedic reference than a guide I can pick up and use quickly. Some chapters are dense with technical detail, which is good, but others—like the brands chapter—felt a bit thin and could have gone deeper into real costs and service records. It's useful for what I need, but not every chapter resonates equally.

Finally, a handbook that doesn't treat water systems like a consumer gadget. The maintenance chapter is especially strong—real, practical intervals and the diagnostic tables actually match what I see in the field. The only thing I'd add is more on-site testing protocols, but overall this is the kind of resource I wish I'd had five years ago when I started doing water treatment consulting.

Clear, honest, and practical. No marketing fluff, which I appreciated. The chapter on choosing the right system cuts through a lot of confusion—the cost-of-ownership framework is something I'm now using with clients. My only minor quibble is that some diagrams could be larger, but that's a small thing. This is a keeper.

Good information overall, though I found myself wishing there was more on water testing methods—specifically what tests a facility manager can run in-house versus what requires a lab. The selection framework is helpful, but there's an assumption that readers already have a baseline knowledge of water chemistry that not everyone does. Useful, but could be more accessible to entry-level practitioners.

This filled a real gap for me. I own a small commercial kitchen and the previous owner left me with a water system I barely understood. The maintenance section helped me figure out what was actually wrong with it, and the troubleshooting section guided me to fix it myself rather than calling a service tech. The book is well-written and doesn't waste your time. Highly recommend for anyone responsible for a water system.