Is your tap water safe to drink?
It’s no secret that bottled water has gotten a bad rap lately because of all the energy and raw materials required to transport and manufacture the bottles. But is your tap water safe enough to drink instead? Here’s how you can tell and what to do about it.
First, analyze your water. If you’re served by a local utility, you can find out which contaminants may be present by reviewing a water-quality report, also called a consumer-confidence report (CCR). Federal law requires water companies to provide these reports annually to consumers. If your system serves more than 10,000 people, you should get a copy in the mail; otherwise, consult your local newspaper. Many reports are also posted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For help deciphering your water report, click here. Here are some other pointers:
• Read the report carefully, even if it says your water is safe. Some reports may start out with rosy language like “We are pleased to report that our drinking water is safe and meets federal and state requirements.” But read on, and you may find that there have been violations. Our recent analysis of CCRs from the 25 largest U.S. cities revealed that only three claimed no federal water-quality violations. Though none of the 22 water systems were consistently unhealthy, all had some samples that contained significant quantities of contaminants - like lead, chlorine, and E.coli. Some samples in Boston, for example, had lead levels more tan 45 times the federal limit.
• If the report notes any seasonal elevations in contaminant levels, consider taking further action, such as ordering a test of your own water at the appropriate time of year or installing a filtering system to address the particular issue. Even minor spikes can cause problems. For example, a 1997 study in the Philadelphia area by Harvard School of Public Health researchers linked small increases in water cloudiness--an indirect indicator of elevated bacteria levels--to a rise in gastrointestinal infections.
• Note that these reports tell you about the water in your municipality, not necessarily what's coming out of your own tap. Only testing your home supply can do that. Call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) for the names of state-certified testing labs or for your local health authority, which might offer low- or no-cost test kits, or check the EPA's Web site for listings. The Watersafe All-In-One Drinking Water Test Kit, about $18, is another option. It provided quick, accurate results for chlorine, lead, nitrate, nitrite, two pesticides, pH, and total hardness in our tests. Results for bacteria were less reliable and required waiting 48 hours. Ultimately, you might find you don't need a water filter.
If you find problems, consider using a water filter. All filtering systems work essentially the same way: Water passes through a removable cartridge packed with a filtering medium such as charcoal. These systems and the replacement cartridges for them are sold at home centers, mass merchandisers, and supermarkets. Screw-on filters are available for just about every kind of tap in your home--sink, shower head, and refrigerator water dispenser. More elaborate systems go under your sink or in the basement. To find out which contaminants can be removed by filters tested by Consumer Reports, check our Green Ratings. For a summary of six available types of filters, click here.
Know when to do extra testing. If there are immune-compromised individuals in your home, such as someone with HIV or who is undergoing chemotherapy, consider more testing. If the tests turn up positive, consult your health department. Fetuses, the elderly, and infants are particularly at risk, even from contaminants that are close to legal limits. See above for information on test kits.
If you drink well water, make annual testing a habit. According to the EPA, the 42 million consumers whose water comes from wells should test theirs at least annually. Your health department can help identify local contaminants to look for. Arsenic, for example, is one poison that shows up mainly in water supplies drawn from wells. It has been linked to several types of cancer and also been found to harm nerves, heart, blood vessels, and skin.
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