How Bad Can Tap Water Be?

For most people tap water is fine for everyday chores such as washing dishes and clothes, watering the lawn or washing the car. But is it safe enough to drink?

“No.” says the Environmental Working Group in California.

They recently published the findings of their three year study on contaminants found in municipal water systems. Here’s a sample of what they had to say…

Americans have good reason to worry about the safety of the drinking water that flows from their taps, according to the results of a 3-year investigation by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

EWG assembled an unprecedented database of 20 million drinking water quality tests performed by water utilities since 2004. It reveals a total of 316 contaminants in water supplied to 256 million Americans in 48,000 communities in 45 states. Among the contaminants were 202 chemicals that are not subject to any government regulation or safety standards for drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set enforceable drinking water safety standards for only 114 of the 316 substances detected (EPA 2009b).

For the 114 contaminants that are regulated, EWG’s drinking water quality analysis found that utilities achieved 92 percent compliance with EPA’s mandatory health standards, demonstrating that utilities can and do comply with regulatory standards when they exist. However, EPA’s failure to establish effective source water protection programs and to develop enforceable standards for scores of other contaminants leaves the public at risk.

This article and complete study can be found online by clicking on the sample above. On this site, you will also find a ranking of cities across America and how they measured up in the study. Find yours and learn what chemicals and contaminants were found, if any, in your local water supply.

The point of this blog is merely to inform you that you can be aware of what you are consuming and take steps to address it. Don’t wait for Big Brother to fix your water. Learn what you need to know and make the water treatment selection that is right for you.