Seabrook runs its own water system, and people quite reasonably ask what that means for the water coming out of their taps.
It is treated water, tested and regulated
Being a small local utility rather than a large regional one does not mean the water is any less treated or monitored. It is tested to the same standards. Living on a barrier island also has nothing to do with salt reaching your supply — that is a common assumption and it is not the case.
What people actually notice
Chlorine taste is the usual comment, and a filter at the kitchen tap deals with it for a fraction of the cost of a whole-house system. That is often all anyone genuinely needs here.
Water that has been standing
In a home used a few weeks a year, water sitting in the pipes tastes flat when you first arrive and clears after running the taps for a few minutes. That is normal, and it is not a filtration problem.
Where filtration does earn its place
In older villas with ageing pipework, a sediment filter protects taps and appliances from debris coming off the inside of those pipes. And if you have tankless heating or a recirculating system, protecting that equipment is a fair reason.