We know how important it is to feel confident about the water coming from your tap. That’s whyEWG on social media asked you to share your top questions and concerns about drinking water quality.
You responded with thoughtful, insightful queries, asking about everything from hidden contaminants and filtration options to water safety regulations and test kits.
We’ve compiled clear, practical answers to help you better understand what’s in your tap water, how to protect your health and how to advocate for stronger water safety standards.
Let’s dive in.
What are some other chemicals being found in water systems that aren’t getting talked about enough (chemicals other than lead and PFAS)?
Whilelead and the“forever chemicals” known asPFAS get a lot of attention, many other potentially hazardous contaminants are alsocommon in tap water:
Disinfection byproducts: These chemicals are formed when disinfectants like chlorine or chloramine interact with organic matter. They are linked tocancer and pregnancy complications. A simplecarbon filter can reduce disinfection byproducts in your tap water.
Nitrate: Nitrate contamination is widespread, especially in agricultural areas due torunoff of fertilizer and manure. It’s linked to cancer and reproductive issues.Reverse osmosis filtration systems effectively remove nitrate from tap water.
Heavy metals:Arsenic andhexavalent chromium, which are linked to cancer, can leach into water from natural deposits or industrial pollution. Reverse osmosis filters are best for removing heavy metals.
Radiological contaminants: Radium and uranium, from natural deposits or mining, can increase cancer risk and cause pregnancy harm.Ion exchange or reverse osmosis filters reduce concentrations of these radioactive contaminants.
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs: Industrial chemicals liketrichloroethylene, or TCE, can contaminate tap water, raising cancer and birth defect risks. Activated carbon filters can remove many VOCs, includingTCE. VOCs can also beinhaled when washing dishes or showering, so a whole-house system may be needed in some cases.
What to do if your municipality’s annual water quality report, or consumer confidence report, is missing key contaminants, such as nitrate?
If key contaminants like nitrate are not listed in your consumer confidence report:
It could be because of the size of the system and the levels of the contaminants. Smaller systems require less testing.
Check EWG’sTap Water Database. This tool compiles data from U.S. utilities and includes multiple years of test results that may not be included in your local water quality report.
Ask for more information. Contact your water utility if you are concerned about specific contaminants in your area.
Test independently. If you have a private well, you won’t know what’s in your water unless you test, as consumer confidence reports don’t include information about private wells. Consider sending a sample to a certified lab for a full contaminant analysis. While mail-in lab kits are expensive –- ranging from $195 to over $1,000, depending on the scope – they provide accurate, lab-certified results.
Advocate for stronger protections to help prevent contamination at the source. Urge local and state officials to prioritize investment in drinking water treatment as well as source water protection measures.
Push for transparency. Tell your representatives that safe drinking water is important for your community. Ask them to push for stricter reporting standards and more comprehensive tests. Even if your water meets federal standards, it may still contain harmful contaminants.
It’s important for all of us to advocate for better drinking water and to let our officials know safer, cleaner tap water is a priority.
Could PFAS from military bases surrounding Washington, D.C., seep into the city water, or is the city water supply too far away from the source to become contaminated?
It’s possible for PFAS from military bases to contaminate nearby water supplies, even from some distance. PFAS are highly mobile in water and do not easily break down, allowing them to travel long distances through groundwater and surface water.
Most of the drinking water in Washington, D.C., comes from the Potomac River, which could be affected by upstream contamination.
However, some areas inNorthern Virginia get water from the Occoquan Reservoir, which may be more vulnerable to pollution because of its proximity to military sites. In 2021, a firefighting foam spill from Manassas Regional Airport, located in the Occoquan River basin, raised PFAS contamination concerns. Aqueous film-forming foam containing forever chemicals was used for decades onmilitary bases, including some in Northern Virginia.
D.C. Water regularly tests for PFAS and other contaminants. While PFAS contamination from nearby military bases is possible, ongoing tests help monitor and address potential risks.
I am concerned thatMansfield, Ohio, water has 21 contaminants in it. What should I do?
If your local water contains numerous contaminants:
Identify whichcontaminants are present in your tap water and their potential health effects.
If possible, invest in awater filter certified to reduce the specific contaminants found in your water supply. Often a simple carbon filter can effectively reducedisinfection byproducts that are common in many systems. EWG’s Tap Water Database can suggest the best filter to use based on your location.
Join or support local advocacy groups pushing for improved water quality standards and stricter regulation of contaminants.
If we live in Houston, how can we know whether the tap water is safe?
Use EWG’s Tap Water Database to search foryour ZIP code to see the latest water quality report.
For Houstonians, your water shows14 contaminantsexceedingEWG's health guidelines.
For example:
Arsenic, linked to cancer, was found at 2.06 parts per billion, or ppb, well above EWG’s health guideline of 0.004 ppb (516 times higher than the guideline).
Chromium-6, also linked to cancer, was found at 0.747 ppb, exceeding EWG’s health guideline of 0.02 ppb by 37 times. There is no national legal limit for chromium-6, despite the known health risks.
Haloacetic acids, which can cause cancer, measured 36 ppb, above EWG's health guideline of 0.06 ppb. While a small number of haloacetic acids are regulated as a group of disinfection byproducts, many more are not.
Total trihalomethanes, another group of disinfection byproducts, were detected at 30.4 ppb, more than 200 times higher than EWG’s guideline of 0.15 ppb.
The tap water is sourced from surface water and serves over 2.2 million people. While the water utility complies with federal lead regulations, the 2023 test results showed lead was detected in about 39 percent of the homes tested, a concerning finding, especially for children.
Houston residents may want tofilter their water to remove or reduce contaminants, some of which are carcinogens and others that are linked to additional health harms.
What are the affordable water filter options?
Affordable and effective water filter options include:
Water pitchers. Countertop filters that can reduce common contaminants such as disinfection byproducts, chlorine, lead and somePFAS. These pitchers are relatively easy to use and a popular option for kitchens.
Costs. A pitcher’s cost usually includes the filter, with replacement filters available separately. The price varies by brand, but typically, you can expect to spend between $20 and $40 for a basic pitcher. Filters must be changed regularly for the filter to remain effective.
Effectiveness. EWG tested 10 countertop pitcher filters and found they vary in how well they remove contaminants such as PFAS and hexavalent chromium.
Faucet-mounted filters. These are similar in cost to pitchers, depending on the brand. They attach directly to your faucet and provide filtered water on demand.
Under-sink filters: These filters, usually reverse osmosis types, cost more initially but are more cost-effective over time. They remove a broader range of chemicals and are often more effective than pitchers and faucet-mounted filters.
No matter the filter type, you must replace it regularly. With use, filters can become saturated and less effective, potentially causing contaminants to leach back into your water. Always follow the manufacturer’s replacement schedule for the best results.
For more details about how the countertop filters we tested performed for removing specific contaminants like PFAS, check out EWG’sguide to water filters.
Is ZeroWater an effective product? What are its advantages and disadvantages?
ZeroWater pitchers are effective at removing dissolved solids, heavy metals and some PFAS, making them a good option for improving water quality.
Their initial cost is low – about $24.99 – and according to EWG’s tests, they removed 100 percent of PFAS from tap water in a study that measured 25 PFAS.
But the filters need frequent replacement – about every 10 days or 20 gallons – which can add up to a steep annual cost of nearly $650 for a family, factoring in the initial purchase and 37 filter replacements.
While they’re great for removing PFAS, and one of the only countertop pitchers that EWG tested that reducednitrate, they’re less effective at removing other contaminants, such as chromium-6 and disinfection byproducts.
Over all, ZeroWater is a good choice for those focused on PFAS and nitrate removal, but the ongoing filter replacement can be costly.
Is Brita an effective filter? What are its advantages and disadvantages?
EWG scientiststested two different Brita water pitcher filters. Brita filters are affordable and easy to use, making them a popular choice for many. However, while they do reduce some contaminants, they aren't the most effective option in their price range.
Brita Filter Pitcher, 6-Cup
Pros: Low initial and ongoing costs, simple to use.
Cons: Small pitcher requires frequent refills. It doesn’t fully remove the PFAS. It removes about two-thirds. So it’s better than nothing, but not ideal.
Brita Elite Filter
Pros: Easy to use and replace.
Cons: The pitcher still needs frequent refills. This filter only removes 22 percent of PFAS, and our tester found it didn't seal well, leading to leaks and likely reducing the efficiency.
Any filter is better than no filter, but the most crucial step is understanding which contaminants are in your water.
Choose a filter certified to remove those specific contaminants. A filter needs to address the exact issues in your tap water, so don’t rely on a general solution like Brita if your water contains harmful substances that require a more targeted filter.
On the other hand, a highly specialized filter at a higher cost may not be necessary if you only need to reduce disinfection byproducts, for which Brita works fine.
While Brita is a budget-friendly option, it may not be effective for removing contaminants like PFAS. Always consider your water’s specific needs before choosing a filter.
If you share a water tank, how can you filter all your water?
If you’re sharing a water tank and want to filter all the water in the home, there are a couple of options:
Point-of-use filters. If you’re mainly concerned about your drinking water, you can use filters like water pitcher systems or faucet-mounted filters. These are effective for removing specific contaminants directly from the water you use for drinking and cooking.
Whole-house filtration systems. For filtering all the water in your home, including for bathing, cooking and drinking, a whole-house filtration system is the best choice. While more expensive up front, these systems filter all the water coming from your shared tank.
If you install a whole-house filter, be sure to clean it regularly. To maintain optimal performance, replace the filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Can you recommend a shower head filter?
The primary water safety concern is generally for drinking water, and therefore limited to the filtration of kitchen taps. But a handful of contaminants, such as TCE, may warrant more protection. Shower head filters may be useful if you have contaminants such as VOCs or radon in your water. These could pose an inhalation risk during activities like showering and bathing, when warm water is likely to evaporate into the air.
But most households don’t need shower head filters or whole-house filters unless you have significant contamination that affects both drinking water and air quality in your home. And these filters should be maintained carefully to avoid issues likeLegionella bacteriacontamination.
EWG has not tested or evaluated the research on the efficacy of shower head filters to reduce contaminants.
What do water softeners do?
A water softener removes calcium and magnesium from your water through ion exchange, addressing and preventing issues caused by hard water, like clogged pipes, dry skin and hair, and improving the efficacy of soaps, shampoos and detergents.
It boosts the life span of appliances, makes cleaning easier and helps prevent hard water scale buildup.
While water softeners use ion exchange, which can reduce the concentrations of some contaminants, not all water softeners are designed for this. The process can increase sodium levels, which may concern those with high blood pressure.
Hard water is generally safe to drink, but softening water may be especially beneficial for homes whose water is especially hard. That can reduce the need for extra detergent and make skin and hair feel softer.
How can we strengthen laws and regulations about water safety?
To bolster water safety laws, we need to push for updates tooutdated federal regulations.
The Environmental Protection Agency regulates only about90 contaminants in drinking water, and many of its rules haven’t been updated since the 1990s. The process for setting safety standards is slow and, as we’ve seen with the delayed regulation of PFAS, often influenced by cost, not health concerns..
Last year, the EPA took an overdue step and set unprecedentednew limits on six PFAS in drinking water. These are among the most protective health limits on PFAS in drinking water in the world. Rolling back or weakening these standards – as some are urging the agency to do – would remove protections for millions of Americans.
States have stepped in with stricter standards, particularly for emerging contaminants. California, for example, hasintroduced a bill to mandate new water limits for PFAS that would align with the new federal standard. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is also helping modernize water systems, though setbacks remain.
Additionally, water pollution needs to be addressed at the source – we need to put a stop to it entering our sources of drinking water in the first place. The federal government and certain state governments have the power toset limits for releases of hazardous contaminants from industrial facilities by using detailed guidelines and the permitting process. This puts the cost of cleanup on the polluters rather than on the ratepayers.
To ensure safer water, we must advocate forstronger regulations and timely updates tomaximum contaminant levels based on current science and greater accountability for polluters.
We must also urge state and federal regulators and legislators to uphold existing health-protective standards, like the federal PFAS drinking water standard, and reject any efforts to weaken them.Public pressure is key to improving water safety at local, state and federal levels.
What is a good test kit for drinking water?
If you’re concerned about your water quality, especially for well water, you have afew testing options, depending on your budget and the level of detail you need.
Home test kits. These are affordable and easy to use, available online or at hardware stores. They can check for common issues like bacteria, nitrates, pH and iron, but they don’t detect more hazardous contaminants, such as PFAS, heavy metals or VOCs.
Mail-in lab kits: Tests for the full range of potential pollutants can be quite expensive, often costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Often they will require multiple tests or samples to cover the broadest range of possible contaminants.
For thorough and reliable testing, you can use a mail-in lab kit, which lets you send a sample to a certified lab for detailed analysis. These kits are available for a wide range of contaminants, including heavy metals, PFAS and industrial chemicals.
But even the most comprehensive kits may not cover all of the most common contaminants detected in tap water, so make sure to understand what each kit tests for before purchasing. Prices typically range from $195 to over $1,000.
State-certified labs: For specific concerns, like proximity to industrial sites or real estate needs, you can contact a state-certified lab for professional analysis. Some counties also offer free or discounted tests. These labs can provide a detailed, accurate test customized to local risks. Contact your state health or environmental department for more information.
Before purchasing a test, it’s helpful to review your local water quality report or check EWG’s Tap Water Database to understand common contaminants in your area, especially if you rely on well water. This can guide you in selecting the right test and avoiding unnecessary costs.